The present text presents a reflection about the author's experience as head of a Health Department of a big city during two and a half years. It presents a systematization of the strategic projects, the political and technical activities and the managerial routine, in which he was involved. It identifies three levels (macro, meso and micro) and four dimensions of management (social-political, institutional, technical-sanitary and administrative in the strict sense). In each dimension, on the three levels, it discusses management strategies designed to contribute to the construction of a universal and equitable Brazilian Health System (SUS). Although it may be premature to evaluate the degree of implantation and the effects of the proposed strategies, their analysis and discussion can be useful for being strongly based on empirical elements. The paper concludes that, even though the consolidation of the SUS is a political struggle that surpasses the management arena, managers are important agents who need to know how to develop strategies able to foster the principles of universality and equity.
Healthcare management; manager; Brazilian Health System