Pharmaceutical Services and litigation in small Brazilian municipalities: a study in Mato Grosso do Sul

This study aimed to characterize management of Pharmaceutical Services in the scenario of judicial demands for medicines in municipalities of Mato Grosso do Sul. The twenty-seven second-grade judicial districts in the State were visited and data pertaining to lawsuits were collected. Six municipalities were selected for characterization of Pharmaceutical Services through in-depth interviews with municipal managers. Serious problems in Pharmaceutical Services were observed, possibly adding to difficulties linked to judicial demands. Contrary to what was expected, basic failure in Pharmaceutical Services is the possible main determinant for the increase in litigation in these municipalities.