Objective: to describe the proportion of hypertensive and diabetic patients who reported getting medicines to control these diseases via the Brazilian People's Pharmacy Program, according to sociodemographic factors.
Methods: this was a population-based descriptive study using 2013 National Health Survey data on individuals aged over 18 years.
Results: around one third of hypertensive individuals (35.9%; 95%CI 34.1-37.7) and more than half of those with diabetes (57.4%; 95%CI 54.2-60.2%) had got at least one kind of medication via the Program, there being some differences between the country's regions. Among patients with diabetes, higher rates of getting medication were found in black people (69.4%; 95%CI 60.8-77.9) and those with less schooling (0-8 years) (63.9%; 95%CI 60.2-67.7), with no significant differences between age groups or sex.
Conclusion: obtaining at least one kind of medication to treat hypertension and diabetes via the Program was high, especially among the underprivileged.