Abstract
Introduction: Serafina Corrêa is a municipality located in the Serra Gaúcha region, in the northeastern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with approximately 18,000 inhabitants. In 2021, through Municipal Law 3,960, the Solidarity Pharmacy was established within the Municipal Pharmaceutical Assistance program, a medication collection and redistribution program. Also guided by State Law 15,339/2019, the initiative provides access to treatments that are not included in the Municipal List of Medicines (REMUME), while also preventing medication waste and selfmedication, as well as associated intoxications. Although implementation dates back to 2021, efforts to fully develop the initiative have intensified in recent years, making a retrospective evaluation useful to guide possible improvements and further strengthen the initiative. Objective: To provide an overview of the practical experience and operation of the program over the past two years. Methods: Inventory movement and dispensing reports were generated for the period from May 15, 2023, to May 15, 2025, and reports and experiences from pharmaceutical assistance related to the Solidarity Pharmacy were compiled, obtained through observation of donation and dispensing activities. Results: During the evaluated period, 109,482 units of medicines, including tablets, capsules, syrups, and other pharmaceutical forms, were added to the Solidarity Pharmacy inventory. Of these, 65,085 were dispensed, benefiting 2,766 patients. Discussion and Final Considerations: In addition to the numerical data, it is extremely important to address the flow of activities related to the Solidarity Pharmacy in the municipality of Serafina Corrêa. Donations come from the general population, clinics and healthcare professionals, and companies in the pharmaceutical sector. After being received, the medicines undergo an assessment of physical integrity and expiration date and, after screening, are incorporated into a specific storage area located adjacent to the Central Municipal Pharmacy. For dispensing, the same protocol used in the Basic Pharmacy is followed, with mandatory presentation of an appropriate prescription issued by a professional affiliated with the Unified Health System (SUS). The inventory withdrawal is recorded and a receipt is generated, which is signed by the patient/responsible person and filed together with the prescription. Regarding dissemination, in order to strengthen the Solidarity Pharmacy, informational brochures were printed, posts were published on social media and the municipal government website, and pharmacists participated in local radio programs, since listening to the radio is a habit among the population of Serafina Corrêa. Regarding the challenges encountered, greater workload can be mentioned, considering the stages of screening, intake, and organization of the inventory of the medicines in question, which adds to the entire routine workload of Pharmaceutical Assistance in the Basic Pharmacy. The issue of physical space for inventory storage also deserves attention, in addition to the need for constant review of available medicines, since the available inventory varies according to the donations received. The pharmacists leading the program consider the results so far positive, highlighting the strengthening of the relationship among patient, pharmacist, and solidarity.
