The implementation of the Unified Health System (SUS) has dealt with lack of professionals with managerial skills, mainly at municipal level. However it is necessary to reassess what type of health manager is appropriate to the current health care model, to check what knowledge and skills are needed, and how to convery them. Twelve manuals covering several subjects geared to local health service management were written. The first version was presented in 3 three-day seminars, with an interval of six weeks between them, so that the manuals could be analyzed and criticized. The final version had he collaboration of 115 participants of five cities indicated by CONASEMS. The set of manuals, published in November 1998 and distributed for free, has been well accepted and looked for. The centers and services using this material will have a tested tool for manager training.
Unified Health System; health management; local management of health services; training; manual