[Public production of medicines in Brazil: an overview].

This paper analyzes the role of government production of medicines in Brazil, based on a review of the literature and public documents. It begins by examining the main characteristics of the national and international pharmaceutical industry and market dimensions, mainly in the public sector. The government view was examined through Ministry of Health documents. The article concludes with a diagnosis of the state-owned pharmaceutical industry in Brazil, showing a variety of difficulties faced by the laboratories due to political and institutional constraints, management deficiencies, shortage of qualified human resources, and low technological capability.