What contributes to Primary Health Care effectiveness? Integrative literature review, 2010-2020. / O que contribui para a resolubilidade na Atenção Primária à Saúde? Revisão integrativa da literatura, 2010-2020.

Primary Health Care (PHC) intends to rearrange services to make it more effective. Nevertheless, effectiveness in PHC is quite a challenge. This study reviews several articles regarding the effectiveness improvements in PHC between 2010 and 2020. Ninety out of 8,369 articles found in PubMed and the Virtual Health Library databases search were selected for thematic analysis using the Atlas.ti® 9.0 software. There were four categories identified: strategies for monitoring and evaluating health services, organizational arrangements, models and technologies applied to PHC. Studies concerning the sensitive conditions indicators were predominant. Institutional assessment programs, PHC as a structuring policy, appropriate workforce, measures to increase access and digital technologies showed positive effects. However, payment for performance is still controversial. The expressive number of Brazilian publications reveals the broad diffusion of PHC in the country and the concern on its performance. These findings reassure well-known aspects, but it also points to the need for a logical model to better define what is intended as effectiveness within primary health care as well as clarify the polysemy that surrounds the concept. We also suggest substituting the term "resolvability", commonly used in Brazil, for "effectiveness".

Na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), proposta para reorientar os serviços tornando-os mais efetivos, concretizar a resolubilidade é um desafio. Este trabalho apresenta um panorama de estudos acerca da melhoria da resolubilidade na APS entre 2010 e 2020. Dos 8.369 artigos advindos da busca na PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, selecionaram-se 90 para análise temática no software Atlas.ti® 9.0. Quatro categorias emergiram: estratégias de monitoramento e avaliação da qualidade, arranjos de organização, modelos, tecnologias aplicadas à APS. Predominaram estudos sobre indicadores por condições sensíveis, apontando-se para efeitos positivos de programas institucionais de avaliação, APS como política estruturante, força de trabalho adequada, medidas para aumento da disponibilidade e tecnologias digitais. Permanecem controvérsias sobre a remuneração por desempenho. O expressivo número de publicações brasileiras demonstra difusão da APS e preocupação com seu desempenho. O panorama reforça aspectos já reconhecidos, mas mostra a necessidade de um modelo lógico para delimitar o que se pretende resolver na APS, além de esclarecer a polissemia em torno da resolubilidade. Outra possibilidade seria, no Brasil, esse conceito ser substituído pelo de efetividade.

[A historical and conceptual model for Primary Health Care: challenges for the organization of primary care and the Family Health Strategy in large Brazilian cities]. / Ensaio histórico-conceitual sobre a Atenção Primária à Saúde: desafios para a organização de serviços básicos e da Estratégia Saúde da Família em centros urbanos no Brasil.

This paper focuses on the experience with Primary Health Care as a strategy for reorganizing the health care model, based on reforms in this direction and their implementation in the Brazilian case. The article identifies a shift in the discourse concerning health sector reforms, with a return to emphasis on primary care and integration of services. The Brazilian context demands reflection on the possibilities for synergy between this strategy and other social policies and the factors needed to ensure adequate performance. Evaluation research has suggested that primary care activities are slightly superior as compared to traditional health care units, despite persistent difficulties in access, physical infrastructure, team formation, management, and organization of the network. These difficulties correlate with a low level of public financing, persistent segmentation of the system, and weak integration of primary care services with other levels of care. From the technical perspective, a reasonable target is to guarantee the strategy's continuity with the necessary adjustments, conditioned by the dynamics of the health care technical models involved in the dispute.

O que contribui para a resolubilidade na Atenção Primária à Saúde? Revisão integrativa da literatura, 2010-2020 / What contributes to Primary Health Care effectiveness? Integrative literature review, 2010-2020

Resumo Na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), proposta para reorientar os serviços tornando-os mais efetivos, concretizar a resolubilidade é um desafio. Este trabalho apresenta um panorama de estudos acerca da melhoria da resolubilidade na APS entre 2010 e 2020. Dos 8.369 artigos advindos da busca na PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, selecionaram-se 90 para análise temática no software Atlas.ti® 9.0. Quatro categorias emergiram: estratégias de monitoramento e avaliação da qualidade, arranjos de organização, modelos, tecnologias aplicadas à APS. Predominaram estudos sobre indicadores por condições sensíveis, apontando-se para efeitos positivos de programas institucionais de avaliação, APS como política estruturante, força de trabalho adequada, medidas para aumento da disponibilidade e tecnologias digitais. Permanecem controvérsias sobre a remuneração por desempenho. O expressivo número de publicações brasileiras demonstra difusão da APS e preocupação com seu desempenho. O panorama reforça aspectos já reconhecidos, mas mostra a necessidade de um modelo lógico para delimitar o que se pretende resolver na APS, além de esclarecer a polissemia em torno da resolubilidade. Outra possibilidade seria, no Brasil, esse conceito ser substituído pelo de efetividade.

Abstract Primary Health Care (PHC) intends to rearrange services to make it more effective. Nevertheless, effectiveness in PHC is quite a challenge. This study reviews several articles regarding the effectiveness improvements in PHC between 2010 and 2020. Ninety out of 8,369 articles found in PubMed and the Virtual Health Library databases search were selected for thematic analysis using the Atlas.ti® 9.0 software. There were four categories identified: strategies for monitoring and evaluating health services, organizational arrangements, models and technologies applied to PHC. Studies concerning the sensitive conditions indicators were predominant. Institutional assessment programs, PHC as a structuring policy, appropriate workforce, measures to increase access and digital technologies showed positive effects. However, payment for performance is still controversial. The expressive number of Brazilian publications reveals the broad diffusion of PHC in the country and the concern on its performance. These findings reassure well-known aspects, but it also points to the need for a logical model to better define what is intended as effectiveness within primary health care as well as clarify the polysemy that surrounds the concept. We also suggest substituting the term "resolvability", commonly used in Brazil, for "effectiveness".

Social Determinants, Conditions and Performance of Health Services in Latin American Countries, Portugal and Spain. / Determinantes sociais, condicionantes e desempenho dos serviços de saúde em países da América Latina, Portugal e Espanha.

Comparison can be an important resource for identifying trends or interventions that improve the quality of health services. Although Portugal and Spain have accumulated important knowledge in primary health care-PHC driven national systems, the Ibero-American countries have not been object of comparative studies. This paper presents an assessment using an analytical dashboard created by the Ibero-American Observatory on Policies and Health Systems. It discusses aspects that have stood out in monitoring the service systems of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Paraguay, Peru, and Portugal throughout the 21st century's first decade. Forty-five indicators and time series showing the highest completeness degree divided into social determinants, conditions and performance were analyzed. Three trends are common to almost all countries: overweight increase, negative trade balance for pharmaceutical products, and an increase in health system expenditure. This convergence trend reveals the need for changes in the way of regulating, organizing and delivering health services with public policies and practices that guarantee comprehensive care, including health promotion actions enabling systems sustainability.

A comparação é um recurso importante para identificar tendências ou intervenções que melhorem a qualidade dos serviços. Os países ibero-americanos não têm sido objeto de estudos dessa ordem, embora Portugal e Espanha venham acumulando um conhecimento relevante na condução de sistemas nacionais orientados pela atenção primária. O trabalho apresenta os resultados da matriz analítica do Observatório Iberoamericano de Políticas e Sistemas de Saúde, discutindo aspectos que se destacaram no acompanhamento dos sistemas de serviços da Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia, Espanha, Paraguai, Peru e Portugal, ao longo da primeira década do século XXI. Foi feita a análise de séries temporais de quarenta e cinco indicadores que apresentavam maior grau de completitude, divididos em determinantes sociais, condicionantes e desempenho. Três tendências são comuns a quase todos os países: aumento de sobrepeso, desequilíbrio da balança comercial em produtos farmacêuticos e aumento nos gastos dos sistemas. Este padrão de convergência mostra a necessidade de mudanças no modo de regular, organizar e prestar serviços com práticas e políticas públicas que garantam um cuidado integral, mas incorporem ações intersetoriais e de promoção permitindo a sustentabilidade dos sistemas.

Challenges for work in healthcare: comparative study on University Hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France. / Desafios para o trabalho em saúde: um estudo comparado de Hospitais Universitários na Argélia, Brasil e França.

This study compares the challenges for work in emergency services of publicuniversity hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France. The description and analysis are organized in three topics: context and trajectory of the health systems; hospitals and emergency services; and the challenges that are faced. The research carried out interviews, surveys, observation and "groupes de rencontre du travail" / GRT. The data analysis was done using participatory appraisal techniques associated to triangulation of sources and data. The main challenges found were: workforce deficit; lack of hospitals beds in inpatient units; deficit of infrastructure and materials; excess of "chronophagic activities"; generational transition; and violence by patients and families.Despite their particularities, the countries coincide regarding the challenges. Measures to rationalize and restrain spending have a greater impact on Algeria and Brazil due to the low level of public funding, but they also occur in France. The hospital management cannot be dissociated from healthcare system planningconsidering the increasing pressures of the demographic and epidemiological transition. In medium term, measures that may mitigate "chronophagic activities", materials deficit and the violence should be considered to improve work in emergencies.

O estudo compara os desafios no trabalho em serviços de emergência de hospitais universitários públicos na Argélia, Brasil e França. A descrição e a análise estão organizadas em três eixos: contexto e trajetória dos sistemas, hospitais e serviços de emergência, e os desafios enfrentados. Nos serviços foram feitas entrevistas, questionários, observação e "groupes de rencontre du travail"/GRT. Para o processo analítico utilizou-se técnicas do "participatory appraisal" complementadas com triangulação de fontes e dados. Os principais desafios referidos foram: déficit da força de trabalho; falta de leitos nos serviços de internação; déficit de infraestrutura e materiais; excesso de atividades cronofágicas; transição geracional; violência pelos usuários e familiares. Medidas de racionalização e contenção de gastos repercutem de modo mais intenso na Argélia e no Brasil onde há um baixo patamar de financiamento público. Nota-se que a gestão hospitalar não pode estar dissociada do planejamento da rede de atenção, tendo em vista as crescentes pressões do complexo produtivo, da transição demográfica e epidemiológica. A médio prazo, medidas que possam atenuar atividades cronofágicas, o deficit de materiais e a violência devem ser consideradas na melhoria do trabalho em emergências.

Health care of people in homelessness: a comparative study of mobile units in Portugal, United States and Brazil. / Atenção à saúde de pessoas em situação de rua: estudo comparado de unidades móveis em Portugal, Estados Unidos e Brasil.

This paper describes and analyzes the legal and normative framework guiding the use of mobile units in Portugal, United States and Brazil, which seek to improve access and continuity of care for people in homelessness. We used a comparative analysis through literature and documentary review relating three categories: context (demographic, socio-economic and epidemiological), services system (access, coverage, organization, management and financing) and, specifically, mobile units (design, care and financing model). The analysis was based on the theory of convergence/divergence between health systems from the perspective of equity in health. Improving access, addressing psychoactive substances abuse, outreach and multidisciplinary work proved to be common to all three countries, with the potential to reduce inequities. Relationships with primary healthcare, use of vehicles and the type of financing are considered differently in the three countries, influencing the greater or lesser extent of equity in the analyzed proposals.

The socio-ecological and primary care approach to the creation of universal health systems in the work of Hernán San Martin.

This article describes the contributions of Chilean physician San Martín Ferrari (1915-200), arguing that they constitute important cornerstones in collective health in Brazil, Latin America, and the Iberian Peninsula. His work is reviewed, establishing a dialog with the current theoretical research in this field and the context of contemporary health systems. Two main aspects are emphasized: the innovation of San Martín in insisting on the importance of analyses that incorporate the relationship between environment and health; and his role in the creation of the Chilean and the Spanish National Health Services. Although they arose in distinct moments and had different trajectories, these systems constitute examples for the creation of universal public health systems, such as the Brazilian health reform and the ongoing challenge to improve the Unified Health System. The analysis of his work and biography contribute elements for the comparative study of these reforms, as well as an eco-systemic approach to health.

[Primary care policies and health reforms: an evaluative approach based on an analysis of the Family Health Program in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 1994-2000]. / Políticas de atenção primária e reformas sanitárias: discutindo a avaliação a partir da análise do Programa Saúde da Família em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil, 1994-2000.

This article discusses the evaluation of primary health care policies based on a case study of the Family Health Program in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The results are presented in two stages. First, the Program is placed in the context of the Municipality's policies, identifying perceptions of the Program at the administrative level. Second, the author studied the Program's practices based on a sample of five family health care teams using an evaluative framework including variables on accessibility and comprehensiveness. The Program began relatively late in the State capital, but developed a unique model. There is a greater supply of services available to the population not covered by private health plans, although there is a major diversity of practices. The degree of implementation is moderately adequate: the care provided is more comprehensive, but there are problems with access (in the ratio between staff and number of families covered). It is suggested that such proposals for reorienting health care models tend towards rationalization, political legitimization, or democratization of services. The accessibility policy can set the predominant direction.

[Evaluation of comprehensiveness: ascribing meaning to agreements on goals for local health systems]. / Avaliação da integralidade: conferindo sentido para os pactos na programação de metas dos sistemas municipais de saúde.

As a policy guideline, ideal, or objective, comprehensiveness is a relevant attribute in the evaluation of quality of care and health systems. The article discusses the meaning of the concept of comprehensiveness in practice in some health services and systems, analyzing various methodologies to implement the concept. In Brazil, what prevails is an expanded perception emphasizing the complete, continuous, and coordinated nature of health care and management. The article highlights the importance of combining the evaluation of comprehensiveness with measures of access, suggesting the selection of indicators pertaining to agreements on goals for local health systems and their monitoring. This initiative could enhance the validity of existing evaluation instruments, from a communications perspective.

[New educational strategies: evaluation of the Jury Trial technique for training council members in women's health in Santa Catarina, Brazil]. / Novas estratégias em educação: avaliação da técnica Tribunal do Júri na capacitação de conselheiros na área de saúde da mulher em Santa Catarina, Brasil.

This article describes and evaluates the Jury Trial technique, an innovative educational instrument used in a pilot workshop on Social Control and Gender by health council members in Greater Metropolitan Florian polis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The reliability and validity were studied based on the participants' opinions, complemented by qualitative observation of the work. There was consensus in acceptance of the technique based on "acquisition of knowledge" and the fact that it was participatory, democratic, and dynamic. The positive evaluation agrees with a previous study that interviewed municipal health secretaries, with a smaller preference of formal cognitive activities that were also part of the workshop. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of this innovative technique in training programs, since it is accepted by different target publics, allows for designing the program contents, and is useful in relation to new and controversial issues since it favors practical and reflexive experiences.

Sistemas universais para a América Latina: jovens e antigas inovações nos serviços de saúde / Universal health systems for Latin America: recent and old innovations in health services / Sistemas universales para América Latina: jóvenes y antiguas innovaciones de los servicios de salud

OBJETIVO: O trabalho discute a necessidade de se equilibrar "antigas e jovens" inovações na construção de sistemas de saúde. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Descrição da trajetória dos sistemas contemporâneos com análise das reformas feitas no Brasil, Chile, Colômbia, Espanha e Portugal. Cinco momentos foram identificados: expansão dos serviços, reformas "democrático-racionalizadoras", ajustes neoliberais, reformas pró-coordenação, novos ajustes e proposta de cobertura universal para países de média e baixa renda. No Chile e na Colômbia houve a introdução explícita de seguros privados, no Brasil a implementação de um sistema público integrado sob financiamento fiscal. Nos três países a segmentação e a fragmentação dos serviços ainda predominam, com uma complexa composição de serviços públicos e privados. Portugal e Espanha implementaram sistemas nacionais que integram "antigas e jovens inovações", cuja macroeficiência tem sido demonstrada. CONCLUSÃO: Na América Latina, propostas de universalização da cobertura sem mudanças no modelo assistencial trazem riscos de um aumento desregulado de consumo sem correspondência com as necessidades de saúde da população. O conhecimento e o debate a partir das experiências acumuladas no Brasil e nos países ibéricos podem contribuir para o enfrentamento desses desafios.

OBJECTIVE: The paper discusses the need to balance "old and recent" innovations in the construction of health systems. DATA SYNTHESIS: Description of the trajectory of contemporary systems with analysis of the reforms conducted in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain and Portugal. Five moments were identified: expansion of services, "democratic-rationalizing" reforms, neoliberal adjustments, pro-coordination reforms, further adjustments and the proposal of universal coverage for low- and middle-income countries. In Chile and Colombia there was the explicit introduction of private insurance and, in Brazil, the implementation of an integrated public system under fiscal financing. In these three countries, segmentation and fragmentation of services still predominate, with a complex composition of public and private services. Portugal and Spain have implemented national systems integrating "old and recent innovations", whose macro-efficiency has been demonstrated. CONCLUSION: In Latin America, proposals to universalize coverage without changes in the health care model pose risks of a deregulated increase in consumption, not corresponding to the health needs of the population. Knowledge and debate based on the experiences accumulated in Brazil and in the Iberian countries can contribute to coping with these challenges.

OBJETIVO: El estudio discute la necesidad del equilibrio entre las "antiguas y jóvenes" innovaciones para la construcción de sistemas de salud. SÍNTESIS DE LOS DATOS: Descripción de la trayectoria de los sistemas contemporáneos con análisis de las reformas hechas en Brasil, Chile, Colombia, España y Portugal. Se identificaron cinco momentos: la expansión de los servicios, las reformas "democrático-racionalizadoras", los ajustes neoliberales, las reformas pro-coordinación, los nuevos ajustes y la propuesta de cobertura universal para los países de media y baja renta. En Chile y Colombia hubo la introducción explicita de los seguros privados y en Brasil la implementación de un sistema público integrado bajo financiación fiscal. En los tres países la segmentación y la fragmentación de los servicios aún predominan con una compleja composición de servicios públicos y privados. Portugal y España han implementado sistemas nacionales que integran "antiguas y jóvenes innovaciones" cuya macro eficiencia ha sido demostrada. CONCLUSIÓN: En América Latina, las propuestas de universalización de la cobertura sin cambios en el modelo asistencial causan riesgos de un aumento desregulado del consumo sin correspondencia con las necesidades de salud de la población. El conocimiento y el debate a partir de las experiencias acumuladas en Brasil y en los países ibéricos pueden contribuir para el afrontamiento de eses desafíos.

Determinantes sociais, condicionantes e desempenho dos serviços de saúde em países da América Latina, Portugal e Espanha / Social Determinants, Conditions and Performance of Health Services in Latin American Countries, Portugal and Spain

Resumo A comparação é um recurso importante para identificar tendências ou intervenções que melhorem a qualidade dos serviços. Os países ibero-americanos não têm sido objeto de estudos dessa ordem, embora Portugal e Espanha venham acumulando um conhecimento relevante na condução de sistemas nacionais orientados pela atenção primária. O trabalho apresenta os resultados da matriz analítica do Observatório Iberoamericano de Políticas e Sistemas de Saúde, discutindo aspectos que se destacaram no acompanhamento dos sistemas de serviços da Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia, Espanha, Paraguai, Peru e Portugal, ao longo da primeira década do século XXI. Foi feita a análise de séries temporais de quarenta e cinco indicadores que apresentavam maior grau de completitude, divididos em determinantes sociais, condicionantes e desempenho. Três tendências são comuns a quase todos os países: aumento de sobrepeso, desequilíbrio da balança comercial em produtos farmacêuticos e aumento nos gastos dos sistemas. Este padrão de convergência mostra a necessidade de mudanças no modo de regular, organizar e prestar serviços com práticas e políticas públicas que garantam um cuidado integral, mas incorporem ações intersetoriais e de promoção permitindo a sustentabilidade dos sistemas.

Abstract Comparison can be an important resource for identifying trends or interventions that improve the quality of health services. Although Portugal and Spain have accumulated important knowledge in primary health care-PHC driven national systems, the Ibero-American countries have not been object of comparative studies. This paper presents an assessment using an analytical dashboard created by the Ibero-American Observatory on Policies and Health Systems. It discusses aspects that have stood out in monitoring the service systems of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Paraguay, Peru, and Portugal throughout the 21st century's first decade. Forty-five indicators and time series showing the highest completeness degree divided into social determinants, conditions and performance were analyzed. Three trends are common to almost all countries: overweight increase, negative trade balance for pharmaceutical products, and an increase in health system expenditure. This convergence trend reveals the need for changes in the way of regulating, organizing and delivering health services with public policies and practices that guarantee comprehensive care, including health promotion actions enabling systems sustainability.

Desafios para o trabalho em saúde: um estudo comparado de Hospitais Universitários na Argélia, Brasil e França / Challenges for work in healthcare: comparative study on University Hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France

Resumo O estudo compara os desafios no trabalho em serviços de emergência de hospitais universitários públicos na Argélia, Brasil e França. A descrição e a análise estão organizadas em três eixos: contexto e trajetória dos sistemas, hospitais e serviços de emergência, e os desafios enfrentados. Nos serviços foram feitas entrevistas, questionários, observação e "groupes de rencontre du travail"/GRT. Para o processo analítico utilizou-se técnicas do "participatory appraisal" complementadas com triangulação de fontes e dados. Os principais desafios referidos foram: déficit da força de trabalho; falta de leitos nos serviços de internação; déficit de infraestrutura e materiais; excesso de atividades cronofágicas; transição geracional; violência pelos usuários e familiares. Medidas de racionalização e contenção de gastos repercutem de modo mais intenso na Argélia e no Brasil onde há um baixo patamar de financiamento público. Nota-se que a gestão hospitalar não pode estar dissociada do planejamento da rede de atenção, tendo em vista as crescentes pressões do complexo produtivo, da transição demográfica e epidemiológica. A médio prazo, medidas que possam atenuar atividades cronofágicas, o deficit de materiais e a violência devem ser consideradas na melhoria do trabalho em emergências.

Abstract This study compares the challenges for work in emergency services of publicuniversity hospitals in Algeria, Brazil and France. The description and analysis are organized in three topics: context and trajectory of the health systems; hospitals and emergency services; and the challenges that are faced. The research carried out interviews, surveys, observation and "groupes de rencontre du travail" / GRT. The data analysis was done using participatory appraisal techniques associated to triangulation of sources and data. The main challenges found were: workforce deficit; lack of hospitals beds in inpatient units; deficit of infrastructure and materials; excess of "chronophagic activities"; generational transition; and violence by patients and families.Despite their particularities, the countries coincide regarding the challenges. Measures to rationalize and restrain spending have a greater impact on Algeria and Brazil due to the low level of public funding, but they also occur in France. The hospital management cannot be dissociated from healthcare system planningconsidering the increasing pressures of the demographic and epidemiological transition. In medium term, measures that may mitigate "chronophagic activities", materials deficit and the violence should be considered to improve work in emergencies.

Atenção à saúde de pessoas em situação de rua: estudo comparado de unidades móveis em Portugal, Estados Unidos e Brasil / Health care of people in homelessness: a comparative study of mobile units in Portugal, United States and Brazil

Resumo O trabalho descreve e analisa o quadro legal e normativo que orienta o uso de unidades móveis em Portugal, Estados Unidos e Brasil, que buscam melhorar o acesso e a continuidade dos cuidados em saúde de pessoas em situação de rua. Utilizou-se a análise comparada, por meio de revisão bibliográfica e documental relacionando três categorias: contexto (demográfico, socioeconômico e epidemiológico), sistema de serviços (acesso, cobertura, organização, gestão e financiamento) e as unidades móveis especificamente (concepção, modelo de atenção e financiamento). A análise fundamentou-se na teoria da convergência/divergência entre os sistemas de saúde, pela perspectiva da equidade em saúde. A melhoria do acesso, a abordagem do uso abusivo de substâncias psicoativas, busca ativa e trabalho multidisciplinar mostrou-se comuns aos três países, com potencial para reduzir as iniquidades. As relações com a atenção primária, uso de veículos e o tipo de financiamento são consideradas de maneira divergente nos três países, influenciando o maior ou menor alcance da equidade nas propostas analisadas.

Abstract This paper describes and analyzes the legal and normative framework guiding the use of mobile units in Portugal, United States and Brazil, which seek to improve access and continuity of care for people in homelessness. We used a comparative analysis through literature and documentary review relating three categories: context (demographic, socio-economic and epidemiological), services system (access, coverage, organization, management and financing) and, specifically, mobile units (design, care and financing model). The analysis was based on the theory of convergence/divergence between health systems from the perspective of equity in health. Improving access, addressing psychoactive substances abuse, outreach and multidisciplinary work proved to be common to all three countries, with the potential to reduce inequities. Relationships with primary healthcare, use of vehicles and the type of financing are considered differently in the three countries, influencing the greater or lesser extent of equity in the analyzed proposals.

O enfoque ecológico-social e a atenção primária na construção de sistemas universais na trajetória de Hernán San Martin / The socio-ecological and primary care approach to the creation of universal health systems in the work of Hernán san Martin

Resumo O texto descreve as contribuições do médico chileno Hernán San Martín Ferrari (1915–2000) argumentando que se constituíram em importantes pilares da saúde coletiva no Brasil, na América Latina e na Península Ibérica. Sua obra é revisada estabelecendo-se um diálogo com a atual produção teórica nesse campo e com o cenário dos sistemas de saúde contemporâneos. Dois aspectos principais se destacam: o pioneirismo de San Martín ao insistir na importância de análises que incorporem a relação ambiente e saúde; sua atuação na construção do serviço de saúde chileno e do sistema nacional espanhol. Embora tenham surgido em momentos distintos e tido trajetórias diferentes, ambos se constituíram em imagens-objetivos para a criação de sistemas públicos universais como a reforma brasileira e o permanente desafio de aprimorar o Sistema Único de Saúde. A análise de sua obra e biografia traz elementos para estudos comparados dessas reformas como, também, para uma abordagem ecossistêmica da saúde.

Abstract This article describes the contributions of Chilean physician San Martín Ferrari (1915-200), arguing that they constitute important cornerstones in collective health in Brazil, Latin America, and the Iberian Peninsula. His work is reviewed, establishing a dialog with the current theoretical research in this field and the context of contemporary health systems. Two main aspects are emphasized: the innovation of San Martín in insisting on the importance of analyses that incorporate the relationship between environment and health; and his role in the creation of the Chilean and the Spanish National Health Services. Although they arose in distinct moments and had different trajectories, these systems constitute examples for the creation of universal public health systems, such as the Brazilian health reform and the ongoing challenge to improve the Unified Health System. The analysis of his work and biography contribute elements for the comparative study of these reforms, as well as an eco-systemic approach to health.

[Waiting lists in public systems: from expanding supply to timely access? Reflections on Spain's National Health System]. / Listas de espera em sistemas públicos: da expansão da oferta para um acesso oportuno? Considerações a partir do Sistema Nacional de Saúde espanhol.

The paper discusses the issue of waiting times based on a study of Spain's National Health System (Sistema Nacional de Salud, SNS), focusing on the national context, management issues and local practices. Observation visits and interviews with health personnel and managers conducted in the metropolitan areas of the Autonomous Communities of Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia and Basque Country were complemented by secondary data and a review of the literature. There is unanimity as to the positive results of the SNS, but cutting waiting times seems to be one key aspect requiring improvement. Two directions were identified for complementary measures: guaranteed maximum waiting times in the macro-social sphere associated with local measures to increase service integration and primary care resolution rates. The peculiarities of the Spanish decentralisation process and the existence of economic, political and health profession corporate interests were mentioned as factors hampering waiting list regulation, transparency and management. A comprehensive approach to this issue shows the need to shift discussion from waiting list monitoring and/or expanded supply to guaranteed timely access. That is the quality differential that primary care-oriented systems must bring to public health systems.

[The public-private mix and health service utilization: a study of the therapeutic itineraries of Brazilian supplementary care beneficiaries]. / O mix público-privado na utilização de serviços de saúde: um estudo dos itinerários terapêuticos de beneficiários do segmento de saúde suplementar brasileiro.

This study analyzes the health-disease-care experience reported by users of the Brazilian supplementary system in cardiovascular, oncological, mental health and obstetric care in Florianópolis, capital of the state of Santa Catarina. It discusses the selection of indicators in these areas such as myocardial infarction, breast cancer, alcoholism and childbirth besides exploring socio-anthropological contributions to the management field. The results show a search for solutions in three interconnected sub-sectors of the system - the professional sector, the popular sector and the folk sector, the two latter being of greatest importance in mental and oncological care. Combined use of public and private services appears in cardiovascular and oncological field. Seeking to overcome the gaps with respect to access and integrality by using their own choices with respect to accessibility and comprehensiveness of care by using paths or strategies the users establish a variety of arrangements in their everyday life. The socio-anthropological approach is therefore useful for deepening the understanding of the meaning of public and private in health systems as well as of the care models undertaken by the patients.