Fitofármacos en la atención primaria de la salud: disponibilidad y uso

Resumen

SUMMARY. Phytopharmaceutical drugs in primary care: disponibility and use . Medicinal plants and their for- mulations have great acceptability into the healths workers and people in general. The use of medicinal plant drugs is preferently developed in Primary Care of Health, where they contribute to resolve many problems. Taking this into account, a descriptive study was developed to evaluate the disponibility of these drugs in the area of two clinics in Santa Clara city and their use, in the period between January and October of 2000. The in- formation was given in the pharmacies of these two clinics. The knowledge of the health workers was checked through the application of a formulary to 20 physicians of the clinics. It was found that the disponibility of phy- topharmaceutical drugs was permanent, but it was bigger in Roberto Fleites clinic. The use of phytopharmaceuti- cal drugs had a progressive increase during this period. Aloe barbadensis, Eucalyptus globulus and Cucurbita moschata were the plants with the greatest use, and phytopharmaceutical drugs with the bigger use were the ex- pectorants. We consider that the health workers had good information about medicinal plants and their formula- tions.