Abstract
Objective
to reflect on the Unified Health System (SUS) health management, from the perspective of challenges and possibilities to overcome coordination gaps in facing COVID-19.
Method
this is a reflective study, based on the discursive formulation on health management in SUS organized in the following sections: an introduction with the context of the theme, macro challenges in the scope of SUS in the coordination of health care in facing COVID-19, aspects of supporting management coordination actions and final considerations.
Results
there are challenges in the coordination among federal entities, financing, consolidation of health surveillance, regulation, installed capacity, and in the management of people who refer to the importance of establishing strategies to strengthen SUS, mainly in the coordination of healthcare management.
Conclusions and implications for practice
the relevance of the regulatory management authority in SUS for coordination and its organizational potential in providing better care conditions is highlighted, but it is understood that it is necessary to review the territoriality, planning, and work process, as constituent elements of health surveillance.
Keywords:
Pandemics; Health Management; Health Care (Public Health); Public Health Surveillance; Unified Health System