A policy of free access to asthma medicines in Brazil: an opportunity for pharmacists to optimize asthma treatment.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that is characterized by recurrent symptoms associated with airflow limitation and by bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Free asthma treatment has been guaranteed in Brazil since 2003, notably after the Brazilian government decided to support drugs for the most serious forms of the disease. The asthma treatment access policy in Brazil offers a new opportunity for pharmacists to work closely with patients, and for caregivers and health care teams to promote educational activities and patient counselling about asthma. Pharmacists have an important role in the management of drug therapy within the health care team. Pharmacists should be prepared to engage with the latest concept of health care delivery proposed for Brazilian Unified Health System. These are centred on forming health care networks and strengthening multidisciplinary teams to integrate all professionals who are in charge of patient care.