The praxis developed in the Municipal Health Council in a large city in the state of São Paulo

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to characterize the praxis modalities developed by the Municipal Health Council of Ribeirão Preto and investigate the exercise of the role of the councilor as a participatory member of public management. It is characterized by a descriptive study with a qualitative approach with data col- lection and analysis from primary sources through questionnaires with a health counselor, and secondary sources, through analysis of the minutes in the period 2018-2019. For data analysis, we used a documentary analysis and the IRaMuTeQ software. Six counselors participated in this study and 27 minutes of meetings were analyzed. Although the Municipal Health Council is established as a space for the exercise of social control, falsification of its initial prophecy was identified, since there was no understanding of the role of counselors as a representative and political subject, low-impact deliberations were observed, there was no stimulus of citizen participation, the use of a technical/scientific discourse was noted as a way of establish- ing relationships of subordination, coercion of representatives by the governmental segment and a proforma participation, reducing their performance to the occupation of that chair. However, councils should be rich and powerful spaces for the implementation of the Unified Health System.

KEYWORDS
Democracy; Community participation; Health Councils; Unified Health System; Public health