Abstract
Primary Health Care (PHC) is understood as the user's first contact with the Brazilian health system. The planning of PHC units is usually done based on political decisions, which neglect technical aspects related to the theme. The general objective of this study is to present a multicriteria method to assist in planning the implantation of new PHC units, through technical and objective criteria. Then this method is put into practice in the city of São Carlos - SP. The study used as the main tool the Geographic Information System (GIS), and evaluated the quality of six criteria, which are: (1) service area; (2) spatial constraints; (3) risk of natural events; (4) public transportation supply; (5) population distribution; and (6) average income. Each criterion was based on a series of indicators with clear definitions that allowed for the assignment of values according to the theme of the criterion. Each criterion culminated in a thematic map, which, when combined through a raster calculator, allowed the general classification of the study area and the viability of implanting new PHC units. The proposed method proved to be a technical and objective tool, capable of helping in the planning of new PHC units. This is exemplified in the case study in the city of São Carlos- SP.
Highlights
The Unified Health System (SUS), the Brazilian health system, is seen as one of the most complex and comprehensive health systems in the world due to the guarantee of integral, universal, and free access to more than 100 million inhabitants (BRASIL, 2012).The SUS proposition is to guarantee access to health care, for the totality of the Brazilian population, offering from the simplest care to the most complex procedures
Considering that there is a lack of methodologies and indications for the planning of Primary Health Care (PHC) units and there are several studies addressing the spatial issue of public health facilities, this study aims to propose a method to identify the most feasible locations for the implementation of PHC units, to assist in the planning of these units, based on six criteria drawn from the studies of Ferrari (1977), Gouvêa (2003), Colaço (2011), Goudard et al (2015) and Neves (2015)
PHC is a fundamental element for the Brazilian public health system, functioning as a way of access for new users, and despite this, those units do not have their planning guided by a clear and objective methodology
Summary
The Unified Health System (SUS), the Brazilian health system, is seen as one of the most complex and comprehensive health systems in the world due to the guarantee of integral, universal, and free access to more than 100 million inhabitants (BRASIL, 2012). The SUS proposition is to guarantee access to health care, for the totality of the Brazilian population, , offering from the simplest care to the most complex procedures. The SUS management is part of the responsibilities of all spheres of government: municipal, state, and federal. The Ministry of Health corresponds to the federal management of SUS and it is responsible for financing half of the resources spent on public health and formulating national health policies, while the execution of the proposed actions is done by state and municipal governments, as well as NGOs, foundations, companies, etc (BRAZIL, 2009)
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