Strengthening the capacity of managers in pharmaceutical services based on Primary Health Care (PHC) at different levels of the health system

Abstract

IntroductionDistance learning methods have been widely used because of their advantages to continuing professional development processes. The Primary Health Care (PHC) is a strategy which has been implemented in order to improve the efficiency of health systems. Due to the need for access to medicines and technologies regardless of the strengthening of health systems, a new approach that better integrates both pharmaceutical services and health systems has been implemented.Case descriptionThis is a case study which consists of describing the process of restructuring, developing and implementing the second version of the Virtual Course on Primary Health Care-based Pharmaceutical Services for managers (CVSERVFAPS-12). The main objective is to strengthen the capacity of managers in pharmaceutical services, based on PHC at different levels of the health system, in order to support the restructuring and empowering of these services and, consequently, the health systems in the American region.Discussion and evaluationMany evaluation tools were applied to identify the achievement/improvement of planned competencies. The intervention proposals were collectively built and intended to be more than an academic exercise, looking forward to being implemented as a strategic intervention to promote changes in the pharmaceutical services of the American region. The main strengths identified for the second version of the course were related to the quality of the didactic material and content. Additionally, the tutors’ support was commented upon as a positive aspect. The main challenges faced in this rebuilding process related to the due dates of the activities and lectures as well as the time to capture and assimilate the content.ConclusionsThe CVSERVFAPS-Pilot was reformulated and CVSERVFAPS-12 is consistent with the issues raised in the pilot course’s evaluation in 2011, which were successfully implemented. The use of the distance learning strategy, through a virtual environment, for the application of the Virtual Course on PHC- based pharmaceutical services for managers, is appropriate and confirmed its role in public policy promotion through effective retention and distribution of health workers.

The role of eLearning in health management and leadership capacity building in health system: a systematic review

“…Upon completion, participants reported the successful application of learned concepts and improved collaboration within organizational teams. One study reported on the Virtual Course on Primary Health Care-based Pharmaceutical Services implemented in the Latin American and the Caribbean regions with the aim of improving the reach of geographically dispersed primary care-based pharmacy managers [ 44 ]. The challenges encountered included participants’ poor access to the internet and limited applicability to the real world.…”

Individual capacity-building approaches in a global pharmaceutical systems strengthening program: a selected review

“…High turnover of staff challenges efforts to increase individual capacity of the workforce because training efforts alone are not sufficient to address larger issues relating to long-term recruitment and retention challenges. The Latin America model on facilitated distance learning for pharmaceutical services managers for continuous professional development may be replicated in the context of right enabling conditions and contribute to retention of health workers [ 66 ]. Interventions must involve local institutions in the design and delivery of content for both pre-service and in-service training as well as web-based methods where feasible [ 67 ].…”

Assistência Farmacêutica nos 30 anos do SUS na perspectiva da integralidade

“…Despite the above situation, it is important to recognize the importance of and the efforts made by the Ministry of Health over the last the 20 years since the publication of the NMP. Chart 2 shows the different initiatives taken by this body to strengthen pharmaceutical services through promoting staff capacity building, mainly pharmacists 19,20 , including the first national course on teaching the rational use of medicines directed at physicians in 2002, which focused on medicines prescribing, and local and regional capacity-building programs.…”