15th National Health Conference: a case study

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the participation of the National Council in the construction and realization of the 15th National Health Conference (CNS), as well as the main components of this event, the institutional design regarding its participatory dynamics, and the approved proposals and guidelines, relating this political phenomenon to the Brazilian context. This case study on the 15th CNS had, as data sources, the interviews with 27 national counselors and the documentary review of minutes, news and other sources of the Council related to the 15th Conference. The National Council developed strategies to politicize the elaboration of guidelines and intensified society participation through free conferences. The Health debate in 2015 involved thousands of people in the country – after all, 4,706 municipal and 26 state, district and national conferences were held. The main agendas of the 15th Conference were the defense of democracy and the public financing of health. Nonetheless, the bureaucratic format still prevailed in the 15th CNS. In addition to innovations in the form of conferences, one must increase the permeability of decision-makers to social participation and democratize the health planning and management process.