[Reflections on public-private participation in healthcare]. / Reflexiones sobre la participación pública y privada en la asistencia a la salud.

Health care is one of the major issues in social policy, affected by multiple factors, such as the increase in health costs, crisis, and the degree of private participation in the financing of services. In this essay we reflect on this participation of the private sector in health care, with Brazil as a reference country and taking into account member states of the Union of South American Nations. Based on a qualitative study using data from national and international organizations, we found significant private participation in health care of countries in various continents, with an increase of public and private spending between 2000 and 2010. Regardless of the adopted health system, there was an increase of private spending in most countries analyzed, which emphasizes the need to further evaluate the performance of public and private sectors, as well as the regulatory frameworks for their participation in health care, thus enabling policies that promote quality improvement and the expansion of coverage.

Perspectiva bioética do modelo de assistência suplementar no Brasil / Bioethics perspective model supplemental assistance in Brazil

Este artigo apresenta os resultados de estudo voltado aos planos e seguros privados de saúde, denominado de assistência suplementar, regulamentados no Brasil há mais de uma década para solucionar conflitos na prestação de serviços. A partir de metodologia qualitativa descreveu-se e analisou-se o modelo de assistência, as questões resolvidas, as que permanecem e as que emergiram nesse período. Resultados mostram que o setor suplementar pouco avançou do modelo baseado na lista de doenças e procedimentos, aprovado como plano referência, aumentando os conflitos relativos à incorporação de tecnologias e ao incremento da demanda e dos custos, diante do envelhecimento populacional. Consolidaram-se políticas na regulamentação que ferem princípios bioéticos do Sistema Único de Saúde, na assistência aos mais vulneráveis, às gestantes e idosos. Falta regulação, por parte do Estado, na adequação da área suplementar com outras políticas públicas, no sentido de aperfeiçoar a qualidade da atenção e ampliar equitativamente a cobertura assistencial.

This paper presents the results of a study about the private health plans and insurance, called supplementaryhealth, which were regulated in Brazil more than a decade ago in order to solve conflicts in the provision ofservices. The model of care, the issues resolved, those that remain and the ones that emerged during this period were described and analyzed, using a qualitative methodology. The results show that the supplementarysector made little progress from the model based on the list of diseases and procedures, approved as a reference plan, increasing conflicts regarding the incorporation of technologies and the increase of the demandand costs, due to the aging of the population. Regulatory policies that hurt the bioethical principles containedin the National Health System were consolidated, mainly regarding the assistance to the most vulnerable,pregnant women and the elderly. Regulation is lacking, by the State, in the adequacy of the supplementaryarea with other public policies, in the sense of perfecting the quality of care and expanding healthcare coverage equitably.