The intramunicipal regionalization of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS): a case study in the city of São Paulo (SP), Brazil

Abstract

Regionalization has been pointed out as one of the most important challenges concerning the achievement of integrality and equity in the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). This study aims to evaluate the implementation process of a regional health project in the city of São Paulo. A case study was carried out in a selected region in the city based on the implementation assessment methodology. The data sources were management reports and interviews with key informants, and the period of analysis was 2005-2008. The thematic analysis showed that the regionalization project was not effectively implemented. The main factors involved in this failure were: a) the Municipal Health Department maintained a centralized decision-making process and a separate organizational framework for primary health care and for hospital care; b) specialized outpatient clinics and hospital facilities remained under the state level management and not under municipal responsibility; c) hospitals' strengthened institutional power generated resistance to integrate a comprehensive health system. The municipal decentralization process in the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) is still a challenge. It is important to identify new strategies to be able to improve the negotiation process among health managers, bringing together health organizations, in order to reach a cooperative and effective regionalization process within the National Health System in Brazil.