(Dis) connections between health councils and audit: advancements and challenges in the democratization of public health management

Juliana Maria De Sousa Pinto ,Bruna Dayane Rocha Maranhão,Pollyanna Martins,Kamyla De Arruda Pedrosa,Antônio Rodrigues Ferreira Júnior

doi:10.1590/1414-462x201900010296

Abstract

Abstract Background Aware of the importance of consolidating social control in the qualification of the Brazilian government’s Unified Health System (SUS) management, it is important to highlight that the audit must implement technical cooperation actions with the municipal, state and national health councils and with the three management spheres. Objective Analyze the interaction between the Municipal Health Councils and the SUS audit service. Method The research, with a qualitative approach, had the participation of 20 municipal health counselors, who worked in the largest health region of Ceará, Brazil, composed of 24 municipalities. The thematic content analysis data were collected using self-administered questionnaire. Results We observed a weak interaction between the Municipal Health Council and the SUS audit sector in the municipalities. Conclusion Counselors are unaware of their competencies and the functions of the municipal audit sector.

Highlights

Brazil went through a long process of social mobilization to construct a democratic model, resulting in the creation of the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, which established a lasting involvement of civil society in the management and control of public policies
In order to analyze the main characteristics of the interaction between Municipal Health Council (MHC) and the s Unified Health System (SUS) audit services, an exploratory and descriptive research has been chosen, with a qualitative approach conducted in the Health Region (RS) of Sobral, Ceará, selected for having the largest territory in the State and covering 24 municipalities
The topics and categories constructed in the process of codification and categorization process of qualitative information are discussed below

Summary

Introduction

Brazil went through a long process of social mobilization to construct a democratic model, resulting in the creation of the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, which established a lasting involvement of civil society in the management and control of public policies. In the context of public health policies, Law number 8.142, published in 1990, provides the community participation in the management of the Unified Health System (SUS) and the intergovernmental transfer of financial resources in the health area This law created collegiate instances, Health Conferences and Health Councils, and formalized the public participation in the strategy formulation and in the implementation control of health policy. The Health Council has a permanent and deliberative nature, and is a collegiate body composed of government representatives, service providers, health professionals and users. It is present in each governmental sphere and works in the corresponding instance, including the economic and financial aspects[2].

Objectives

Methods

Results