Biosimilar medicines in Brazil: policy, regulation and an unconcluded agenda

Abstract

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection is a respiratory tract infection that mainly affects children and infants and can lead to hospitalization and death if not treated properly. It occurs seasonally, especially in winter and especially in the first year of life. In 25% of cases, it courses with lower respiratory tract infection, in the form of bronchiolitis or pneumonia. There are several risk factors associated with the severity of RSV disease: chronic lung disease, prematurity and heart disease, among others. The importance of proper management of these patients is essential to reduce hospitalizations and mortality related to the disease. The article by Guedes et al, published in this issue of JAFF, brings an important advance in the qualification of patients' access to Palivizumab, as it meets the SUS guidelines in the decentralization and organization of the dispensing and administration network of this product in the state of Bahia. The combination of health technology assessment with the organization of pharmaceutical care services based on the territory, following regionalization, results in the qualification of the care process, which meets the objectives of the National and State Pharmaceutical Assistance Policies.