Expansion and privatization of medical courses and teaching-service integration: the case of the state of Pernambuco

ABSTRACT

The research explored the challenges arising from the expansion of public and private medical courses in the state of Pernambuco, based on the premise of teaching-service integration within the specialized health network. The study is a descriptive-exploratory case study that uses techniques which combine quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The privatization process in the state took place at a slower pace than nationwide in the Country. In the year 2000, there were only 290 vacancies in two public institutions. In only two decades, a total of 1.350 have been reached, with 1.130 of them located in the private sector. The research highlighted policies and actions related to the programmatic centrality of teaching-service integration, from which the concern with the immoderate nature of the expansion of courses with immediate repercussion on the allocation of students to training vacancies and the lack of integrated planning between the educational apparatus, health services, and SUS (Unified Health System) management stood out. Thus, the intention of the public sector to bring order into the growing presence of the private sector in medical education has not been matched by political decision-making regarding teaching-service integration, turning the nonimplementation of the Public Health Action Organizational Contract (COAPES) into a paradigmatic case.

Keywords:
Teaching Care Integration Services; Education, medical; Universities; Privatization