Abstract
Historically, the training of mid-level health workers has been provided sporadically, with a focus on know-how. Within the context of the Brazilian Sanitary Reform, initiatives such as the ‘Large-Scale Training Project’ boosted the transition to an understanding of the critical-reflective technical work, and required a new model of training for basic- and mid-level workers. The Mid-Level Professional Training Program is the most recent large-scope initiative to qualify the work in the Unified Health System. We analyzed the profile, the work placement and the perception regarding the training process of this Training Program in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, of 404 graduates from the Technical School of the Unified Health System in Maranhão. We identified that: the socioeconomic profile of the graduates seems to mirror social inequalities; the teaching-learning process was in line with the guidelines of the Unified Health System, with pedagogical contradictions to be considered; and that there is a difficulty in retaining the trained professionals, which is expressed by the loss of ties, and the migration to private health services and to other fields not related to health. The qualification of professionals is complex, requiring actions in the field of political-pedagogical projects and work management projects, which go beyond the extension of the offer of enrollment spots in professionalization courses.
human resources in health; ongoing education; public health; Unified Health System