Coordination of Health Care In Brazil: the challenge of strengthening federal primary health care

This study aimed to analyze the federal induction in the strengthening of primary health care (PHC) as a way to achieve coordination of care in the Brazilian health system. Quantitative and qualitative study that used documentary data, budgetary and semi-structured interviews with managers of the federal Department of Primary Care of the Ministry of Health, in years 2007-2011. Thematic content analysis and descriptive statistics were used and provided an overview of the Brazilian PHC, especially the coordination of care from the perspective of centralized induction. Strengthening of PHC is the basis for making care coordination in Brazil. Its prioritization is increasing within the MS, which has been conducting national policies that have generated impact in strengthening the APS and coordination of care, becoming a strong inducer of this policy, mainly through the issue of ordinances. No ordinance or specific budget has been identified for care coordination, which demonstrates the paucity of this attribute in the Brazilian PHC. Social participation was considered relevant to the scope of care coordination. The research concludes that although PHC has been prioritized in the agenda of the Ministry of Health, its importance does not occur homogeneously in all federal decision-making areas.

primary health care; coordination of health care; Ministry of Health