Work

Impact of a Public Health Policy on Accessibility to Levodopa for People with Parkinson's Disease in Brazil

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Access to levodopa remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries. Brazil’s Popular Pharmacy Program dispenses subsidized levodopa nationwide. Objectives To assess levodopa dispensing and geographic coverage of Popular Pharmacy units in Brazil. Methods Nationwide ecological study. We extracted numbers of levodopa/benserazide and carbidopa/levodopa tablets dispensed from 2020 to 2024, and derived absolute/percent change, annualized growth, and 2024 patient-equivalents of people with PD. Popular Pharmacy coverage was mapped. Results In 2024, the Popular Pharmacy Program dispensed levodopa to approximately 15% of Brazilians with PD. There is a North-South gradient for levodopa dispensing through the program, with higher concentrations in the South/Southeast regions and a significant number of municipalities not dispensing levodopa in the North. Conclusions The Popular Pharmacy Program is consistent with increased accessibility to levodopa, yet coverage is limited and uneven. These results may guide other countries to elaborate similar health policies to increase accessibility to levodopa.

Source: Movement Disorders Clinical Practice

DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.70494

Authors: Juliana dos Santos Duarte, Laís Resque Russo Pedrosa, Rafael Sidônio Gibson Gomes, Bruno Lopes Santos‐Lobato

Institution: Universidade Federal do Pará

Language: English

Topic: Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400