Contributions of scientifi c research on access to medicines in Brazil to public policy

Abstract

The National Policy on Pharmaceutical Assistance (PNAF) celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, and it was developed with the support of the academic community, represented by professors and students from undergraduate and graduate programs in Pharmacy. The period coincides with the creation of the main scientific society in Pharmaceutical Sciences, ABCF, a relatively recent society compared to others in fields like Chemistry and Medicine. This opinion article presents the evolution of graduate studies in the area of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Assistance, whether through the creation of dedicated graduate programs or the presence of research lines within other programs, and discusses the challenges this field has faced in gaining recognition for its importance in establishing policies for medication access in Brazil. It also discusses the importance of CAPES, which, through its graduate program evaluation process, has progressively shifted the focus from article output alone toward the broader social impact of research.