Distrito Federal health cites pharmacist shortage, UBS closures

The Secretaria de Saúde do Distrito Federal (SES‑DF) announced that it has no available staff to immediately replace pharmacists who are on leave, sick, or have died. As a result, pharmacy services at certain Basic Health Units (UBS) have been temporarily closed, notably UBS 1 in Brazlândia and a unit in Paranoá.

SES‑DF said the public network normally employs more than 700 pharmacists, totaling about 26 000 work hours per week. When internal reallocation is insufficient, patients are directed to other units in the network. The pharmacy at UBS 1 in Brazlândia has been shut since the death of a pharmacist on 18 July, leaving both pharmacist positions vacant. Similar staffing gaps have been reported in Paranoá, causing patients difficulty obtaining medicines, including controlled‑substance drugs.