Challenges and opportunities for access to Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products in Brazil.

BACKGROUND AIMS: The marketing authorization of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in Brazil is recent. The features of these therapies impose specialized regulatory action and are consequently challenging for developers. The goal of this study was to identify the industry's experience in clinical development, marketing authorization and access to ATMPs through the Unified Health System (SUS, acronym in Portuguese), from a regulatory perspective. METHODS: A survey containing structured questions was conducted among research participants who work at companies that commercialize ATMPs. A descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: We invited 15 foreign pharmaceutical companies, of which 10 agreed to participate. Overall, participants assessed that Brazil has a well-established regulatory system, especially the sanitary registration by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which ensures the quality, safety, and efficacy of the products. The Agency's good interaction with the regulated sector, the harmonization of sanitary and ethical assessment systems with other countries, and the analysis time in the biosafety assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) stand out as positive in industry's evaluation. On the other hand, it is important to advance the pricing regulation for these products since Brazilian regulations do not establish specific criteria for ATMP. One of the biggest challenges is the difficulty for the SUS in reimbursing these very high-cost therapies, especially using current Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methods. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the increasing number of approvals of cell and gene therapies in Brazil in the coming years, a close dialogue between the industry and the public sector is recommended to advance regulatory improvements (pricing and HTA). Additionally, the construction of policies to promote the national Health Economic-Industrial Complex, based on a mission-oriented vision that encourages innovative models of financing, especially those that consider risk-sharing and co-financing technologies, will help provide the population with universal, equitable and sustainable access to ATMP in the SUS.

Distributive justice and equity in resource allocation: a temporal analysis of hospitalization costs in indigenous populations in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, the health needs of each region have an impact. In this context and the name of the principle of equity, the SUS organizes actions especially aimed at social groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and indigenous peoples. The concept of justice proposed by John Rawls is one of equity, which is essential to this country. METHODS: This is an ecological, descriptive study, which analyzed hospital spending on cardiovascular diseases in the Unified Health System (SUS) among the indigenous elderly population and other ethnicities/colors in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. RESULTS: Hospitalization costs and fatality rates for indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities, between 2010 and 2019, were evaluated. A reduction in hospitalization costs for the indigenous population and an increase in other populations was observed throughout the historical series, while there was an increase in fatality rates for both groups. A comparison was made between hospitalization costs and the fatality rates of indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities according to sex, between 2010 and 2019. It was observed that regardless of sex, there are significant differences (p<0.05) between hospitalization costs and fatality rates, with higher costs for patients of other colors/ethnicities and higher fatality rates for the indigenous population. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization costs due to cardiovascular diseases in elderly people from indigenous populations were lower compared to other ethnicities in most federative units, which may suggest an unequal allocation of resources or access for this indigenous population to the SUS. Although there is no strong correlation between spending on hospital admissions and fatality rates, it was found that these rates increased between 2010 and 2019, while spending was reduced.

Economic burden for the Unified Health System attributable to excessive sodium consumption in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the economic costs of excessive sodium consumption in terms of hospitalizations and outpatient procedures of medium and high complexity (OPMHC) for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and its states in 2019. STUDY DESIGN: Ecological study. METHOD: This study used population attributable fractions (PAFs) of excessive sodium consumption estimated by the Global Burden of Disease study based on the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (3 g of sodium per day), the average population consumption, and relative risks of sodium-outcome pairs. PAFs were applied to the total costs of hospitalizations and OPMHC paid by SUS for each outcome obtained from the Outpatient and Hospital Information Systems. The costs per 10,000 inhabitants in all the Brazilian states were calculated and converted into international dollars (Int$), considering the purchasing parity power in the year 2019. RESULTS: Excessive sodium consumption resulted in Int$ 98,882,386.36 (95% uncertainty interval: Int$ 3,398,343.53-312,065,319.80) in hospitalizations and OPMHC costs in Brazil in 2019. Males and the 55- to 69-year-old age group had the highest expenditures attributable to excessive sodium consumption. Cardiovascular diseases were the most significant contributors to the costs associated with the risk factor. Southern and southeastern states had the highest costs of diseases attributable to sodium. CONCLUSION: Excessive sodium consumption has a significant economic burden on SUS, particularly among men and more developed states. This underscores the inequalities in socio-economic factors and access to health services throughout the country. Economic analyses at the subnational level can provide evidence for public policy planning to define the most appropriate actions for the population's sociodemographic reality.

Burden of non-communicable diseases attributed to alcohol consumption in 2019 for the Brazilian Unified Health System.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the health and economic burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributed to alcohol consumption in 2019 for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) stratified by states. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, descriptive, and ecological study. METHODS: We used population attributable fractions (PAFs) of NCDs due to alcohol consumption from the Global Burden of Disease study. We applied the PAFs to the costs of hospitalizations and outpatient procedures of medium to high complexity paid by SUS for each outcome, obtained from official databases. We also calculated the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and mortality caused by alcohol-related NCDs. We converted the costs into international dollars (Int$) using the purchasing parity power in 2019. RESULTS: Alcohol-related NCDs accounted for 8.48% of deaths and 7.0% of DALYs among men, and 1.33% of deaths and 1.6% of DALYs among women. The main diseases were substance use, digestive, and neoplastic diseases. The SUS spent Int$202.0 million on alcohol-related NCDs, mostly on hospitalizations. The highest health burden was observed in the states of the Northeast region, and the highest expenses in the states from the South. The burden and cost values varied by sex, age group, and state. CONCLUSION: The study showed that alcohol consumption has a significant impact on Brazilian population morbidity and mortality and SUS expenditures, especially among men. These results can support policies for the prevention and control of alcohol consumption and health promotion at the subnational level, prioritizing strategies that are more appropriate to local realities.

[The influence of the institutions on local health councils]. / La influencia de las instituciones en los consejos locales de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influences of the institutions in the operation of the Local Health councils. DESIGN: qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study. STUDY SETTING: 02 Primary Health Care services of a municipality in the inland of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: twenty-four members of the Local Health Councils and 4 key informants. METHODS: Supported by the theoretical methodological framework of Institutional Analysis. Data were produced through 28 semi-structured interviews, observation and participation in the activities of the councils and recording in the research diary. Data were organized and analyzed by the process of transcription, transposition and reconstitution. RESULTS: The institutions act in the territories represented by social actors who occupy positions and functions within the Primary Health Care services, evidencing the perpetuation of hierarchization with valorization of the speeches of professionals and managers to the detriment of patients and predominance of bureaucratized meetings. The social actors reproduce the ideals of the collective to which they belong in these spaces. CONCLUSIONS: The health management teams do not recognize the different forces that act in the health territory, however, these forces interfere in the activities performed and in health care. The groups act both in formal spaces through official representatives who meet and discuss issues in collegiate meetings and in informal spaces, and constitute forces in dispute in the health territory.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of COVID-19 tests in the unified health system.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness ratio and economic impact of the Rapid Antigen Test (TR-Ag) to replace RT-PCR for the detection of the new Coronavirus in the Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: This is a cost-effectiveness analysis. Clinical protocols were used for the diagnosis of COVID-19 at the São José Municipal Hospital, located in the city of Itaberá-SP. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) was divided into two scenarios. In the first, the accuracy reported by the test manufacturers was included, and in the second, the cost resulting from a systematic review. Both were compared with the performance of the RT-PCR test. The increase in diagnoses was chosen as a health outcome and absenteeism was used as a criterion for assessing the economic impact. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of R$ 42,136.67 and R$ 68,329.73 for every thousand tests, according to the accuracy of the manufacturers' TR-Ag tests and what is reported in the literature in relation to RT-PCR, respectively. The average value found for the RT-PCR test (R$ 202.87) represents an increase of 165.32% in cost in relation to the value found for the TR-Ag. 4,305 tests were performed between April 2020 and December 2021 at the referral hospital. Also, maintaining the use of RT-PCR as the first choice for diagnosing COVID-19 and regulating absenteeism in the economically active population could have an impact of up to R$ 1,022,779.68 on municipal management. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the TR-Ag are configured as a cost-effective alternative for the SUS in the detection of the new Coronavirus. The strategy becomes economically favorable for the expansion of testing, combating the COVID-19 pandemic and reducing the impact on the local economy. However, studies are needed to validate the accuracy of the tests so that economic evaluations on the subject are more assertive.

Notifications of work-related injuries and diseases: an observational study on a mining disaster.

INTRODUCTION: Accidents at work are events that endanger the health and life of workers. They are considered a public health problem, being the object of studies and actions in the Brazilian health system. The collapsed of the ore tailings dam in the municipality of Brumadinho, Brazil, in January 2019, shocked the world due to the proportion of environmental and human damage caused. In this context, concern for the health of workers gained prominence. This paper evaluated the impact of the collapse of the mining tailings dam in Brumadinho, on notifications of occupational health problems before and after the disaster. METHODS: An observational, longitudinal and retrospective study, of the time series type with a statistical approach was carried out on notifications of work-related injuries and diseases, available in the local database of the Notifiable Diseases Information System between January 2017 and December 2021. RESULTS: During the study period, 520 notifications of work-related injuries and conditions were registered. Of this total, 67.3% were serious work accidents, 26.0% mental disorders, 12.3% accidents with biological material and 2.9% repetitive strain injuries/musculoskeletal disorders, occupational dermatoses and induced hearing loss by noise. Occurrences were more frequent in 2019, the year in which the mining disaster occurred, recording 65.2% of total notifications. Regarding the volume of notifications after the disaster, there was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.001) for accidents with biological material; significant increase for severe work accident and mental disorder. The average time between the occurrence of the injury and the notification showed a statistically significant reduction for accidents involving biological material (p = 0.001) and a significant increase for serious accidents at work (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that there were changes in the number of notifications when comparing the period before and after the mining disaster, with a consequent impact on the health of workers, which may persist over the years.

The economic impact of stroke in Brazil, 2010-2019: Increase in public expenses of Unified Health System.

OBJECTIVES: To economically analyze the impact that outpatient and inpatient spending of the Unified Health System and social security expenses of the General Regime of Social Security generated to the Brazilian public system, between 2010 and 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational research, in which public data from the SUS Department of Informatics and the Social Security Historical Database were used, according to 10ª International Classification of Diseases code, I-64 (Stroke, not specified if hemorrhagic or ischemic). The Kruskal-Wallis test, complemented by Dunn's post-hoc test, and Spearman's bivariate correlation test were used to check for differences and correlations between variables. The expenditures were adjusted for inflation for the year 2019 and presented in american dollar s(U$). RESULTS: Stroke public spending impacted an average of 120 million dollars per year and increased 15% during the historical series. Eighty-nine percent of these expenditures originated from hospital spending (p<0.05). On average, stroke accounted for 7.3% of spending on cardiovascular diseases and 0.72% of spending on the other codes of 10ª International Classification of Diseases. Total spending showed a positive correlation with the historical series (r=.702; p<0.05), with the increase in the elderly population (over 60 years of age) (r=.676; p<0.05) and with Gross Domestic Product per capita (r=.784; p<0,05). CONCLUSIONS: The impact that stroke generated on public spending increased over the historical series, mainly due to hospital spending and by the prospect of increasing elderly population in Brazil, public spending tends to rise.

[Recommendations to strengthen nutritional care in the primary care setting in BrazilRecomendaciones para el fortalecimiento de la atención nutricional en la atención primaria de salud en Brasil]. / Recomendações para o fortalecimento da atenção nutricional na atenção primária à saúde brasileira.

Objective: To develop recommendations to strengthen nutritional care in the primary health care (PHC) setting in Brazil based on expert consensus. Method: A descriptive and exploratory study was performed using the Delphi technique. Of 172 invited PHC experts in nutrition, 116 accepted the invitation and 72 participated in the first Delphi round. The second round had 56 participants from the five Brazilian regions, including managers, healthcare professionals, representatives from civil society organizations, and researchers. The recommendations were developed based on thematic analysis of the responses to open-ended questions about barriers, strategies, actions, and initiatives from five components of the National Food and Nutrition Policy (food and nutrition surveillance, coordination of nutritional care, health promotion, intersectoral focus, and management of food and nutrition actions). In the second round, experts classified each proposed item regarding its pertinence and relevance for the purpose of recommendation. Results: A consensus was reached on 35 recommendations distributed in six categories: structure; PHC nutritional agenda; organization of the healthcare network and PHC; nutritional work processes in PHC; planning, monitoring and evaluation of nutritional actions in PHC; and information systems. These categories were further classified into two blocks: "PHC structuring actions to strengthen nutrition" and "nutrition structuring actions to strengthen PHC." Conclusions: The recommendations were developed by experienced participants who are familiar with both nutritional and PHC pathways from diverse perspectives, and will be useful for the management and proposition of public policies to strengthen nutritional care in the PHC setting in Brazil.

Objetivo: Elaborar recomendaciones para el fortalecimiento de la alimentación y la nutrición en la atención primaria de salud (APS) en Brasil a partir del consenso de especialistas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y exploratorio con la técnica de Delfos. En total, 172 especialistas en alimentación y nutrición del sistema de APS recibieron una invitación para participar, 116 la aceptaron y 72 intervinieron en la primera ronda. En la segunda ronda hubo 56 participantes de las cinco macrorregiones brasileñas, entre gestores, profesionales de salud, representantes de la sociedad civil e investigadores. Las recomendaciones se formularon mediante un análisis temático de las respuestas a preguntas abiertas sobre obstáculos, estrategias, medidas e iniciativas referentes a cinco aspectos técnicos de la política nacional de alimentación y nutrición (vigilancia alimentaria y nutricional, atención y coordinación del cuidado nutricional, promoción de la salud, intersectorialidad y gestión de las medidas relativas a alimentación y nutrición). En la segunda ronda, los especialistas clasificaron cada punto propuesto según su pertinencia y relevancia para efecto de las recomendaciones. Resultados: Los especialistas formularon 35 recomendaciones, organizadas en seis categorías: estructura; agenda de alimentación y nutrición en la APS; organización en red y organización de la APS; procesos de trabajo relativos a la alimentación y nutrición en la APS; planificación, monitoreo y evaluación de las medidas relativas a la alimentación y nutrición en la APS; y sistema de información. Las categorías se dividieron en dos grupos: medidas estructurantes de la APS para el fortalecimiento de la alimentación y la nutrición y medidas estructurantes de alimentación y nutrición para el fortalecimiento de la APS. Conclusiones: Las recomendaciones provinieron de personas expertas que siguen la trayectoria tanto de la alimentación y la nutrición como de la APS desde diferentes puntos de vista, útiles para la gestión y la propuesta de políticas públicas destinadas a fortalecer la alimentación y la nutrición en la APS de Brasil.

Factors associated with the absence of Brazilians in specialized dental centers.

AIM: To identify the individual and contextual factors associated with the absence of Brazilians at a scheduled appointment in Dental Specialties Centers (DSC). METHODS: This cross-sectional design uses the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Dental Specialties Centers database, 2018. The outcome was the users' lack of at least one of the scheduled appointments. Contextual and individual independent variables were used, considering Andersen's behavioural model. The analyses were performed with the R Core Team and SAS (Studio 3.8, Institute Inc, North Carolina, U.S, 2019) programs. RESULTS: Of the 10,391 patients interviewed, 27.7% missed at least one of the consultations. In the adjusted multivariate model, the interpretation based on the effect size and 95% CI showed that the behaviour individual predisposing factors such as age ≤ 42 years (OR = 1.10; 95%CI:1.01-1.21), individual need factors such as participation in the "Bolsa Família" program (OR = 1,14; 95%CI:1.02-1.27), not being covered by the Family Health Strategy (OR = 1.15; 95% CI:1.02-1.30), and users of periodontics services (OR = 1.22;95%CI:1.05-1.40) were associated with absences. The behavioural factor associated with the outcome was that the DSC facilities were not in good condition (OR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.03-1.34). DSC located in the capital (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.92-1.48) were 12% more likely to have dental absences than those in the interior region. CONCLUSION: There are individual and contextual barriers associated with patients not attending specialised public dental consultations. DSC should offer adequate hours to patients, especially young adults and vulnerable people.

Brazil's Community Health Workers Practicing Narrative Medicine: Patients' Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Narrative medicine (NM) encourages health care providers to draw on their personal experiences to establish therapeutic alliances with patients of prevention and care services. NM medicine practiced by nurses and physicians has been well documented, yet there is little understanding of how community health workers (CHWs) apply NM concepts in their day-to-day practices from patient perspectives. OBJECTIVE: To document how CHWs apply specific NM concepts in Brazil's Family Health Strategy (FHS), the key component of Brazil's Unified Health System. DESIGN: We used a semi-structured interview, grounded in Charon's (2001) framework, including four types of NM relationships: provider-patient, provider-colleague, provider-society, and provider-self. A hybrid approach of thematic analysis was used to analyze data from 27 patients. KEY RESULTS: Sample: 18 females; 13 White, 12 "Pardo" (mixed races), 12 Black. We found: (1) provider-patient relationship-CHWs offered health education through compassion, empathy, trustworthiness, patience, attentiveness, jargon-free communication, and altruism; (2) provider-colleague relationship-CHWs lacked credibility as perceived by physicians, impacting their effectiveness negatively; (3) provider-society relationship-CHWs mobilized patients civically and politically to advocate for and address emerging health care and prevention needs; (4) provider-self relationship-patients identified possible low self-esteem among CHWs and a need to engage in self-care practices to abate exhaustion from intense labor and lack of resources. CONCLUSION: This study adds to patient perspectives on how CHWs apply NM concepts to build and sustain four types of relationships. Findings suggest the need to improve provider-colleague relationships by ongoing training to foster cooperation among FHS team members. More generous organizational supports (wellness initiatives and supervision) may facilitate the provider-self relationship. Public education on CHWs' roles is needed to enhance the professional and societal credibility of their roles and responsibilities. Future research should investigate how CHWs' personality traits may influence their ability to apply NM.

The workforce for rehabilitation in primary health care in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the workforce in rehabilitation in primary health care services are still unusual in health systems analysis. Data on the health worker density at the subnational level in rehabilitation in primary health care are not commonly observed in most health systems. Nevertheless, these data are core for the system's planning and essential for finding the balance between the composition, distribution, and number of workers for rehabilitation actions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the temporal space distribution of health professionals with higher education who performed rehabilitation actions in primary health care in Brazil from 2007 to 2020. METHOD: This is an ecological, time-series study on the supply of physiotherapists, audiologists, psychologists, and occupational therapists in primary health care, vis-a-vis the implementation of the Brazilian health policy denominated the Integrated Health Service Network for People with Disabilities. The data were obtained from the National Registry of Health Facilities. The period of analysis was from 2007 to 2020. The health worker density coefficient was calculated per 10,000 inhabitants annually, considering the five geographic regions of Brazil. The time trends of the coefficient of health professionals per year in Brazil and geographic regions were analyzed. For this purpose, joinpoint regression analysis was carried out. The average annual percentage variation was estimated, considering the respective confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: In 2007, there were 0.12 physiotherapists/10,000 inhabitants (2326), 0.05 audiologists/10,000 inhabitants (1024), and 0.205 psychologists/10,000 inhabitants (3762). In 2020, there was an increase in the coefficient of professionals/10,000 inhabitants in all professional categories to 0.47 psychologists (> 268.1%), 0.46 physiotherapists (> 424.8%), 0.14 audiologists (> 297.1%), and 0.04 occupational therapists (> 504.5%). There was a significant increase in the supply of physiotherapists (AAPC: 10.8), audiologists (AAPC: 7.6), psychologists (AAPC: 6.8), and occupational therapists (AAPC: 28.3), with little regional variation. CONCLUSION: Public health policies for rehabilitation have contributed to an increase in the workforce caring for people with disabilities in primary health care services. An increase in the workforce of physiotherapists, audiologists, psychologists, and occupational therapists was observed throughout the period studied in all regions.

Hospital costs of immunopreventable diseases in the economically active population in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Immunopreventable diseases are a public health reality in Brazil and worldwide, a reality that is not exclusive to children, but affects the adult population. OBJECTIVES: Discriminating the total costs of hospitalizations from immunopreventable diseases in the population aged 20 to 59 years. METHODS: A population, observational, descriptive, retrospective study was conducted with secondary information from DATASUS to discriminate the hospitalizations associated with immunopreventable diseases in Brazil and their care costs, within the Scope of the SUS, between 2008 and 2018, in the economically active population (20 to 59 years). RESULTS: It was analyzed 127,746 hospitalizations for immunopreventable diseases, (27.92% of all hospitalizations) were observed in the adult population, totaled R$115,682,097.54 (29.72% of the total costs). Of this population studied, 51.48% were registered as male; 66.74% were associated with influenza disease; 16.05% to chickenpox/herpes zoster infection and 7.55% to acute hepatitis B infections. The trend analysis of the time series of hospitalizations in this population showed a stationary trend. CONCLUSIONS: The 127,746 hospitalizations could be avoided with immunization, and 127,746 workers who could be working and not hospitalized. There were also R$115,682,097.54 that could be invested in other public health needs, which became necessary for the treatment of preventable diseases.

Costs related to immunopreventable diseases: Brazil and its geographic areas (immunopreventable diseases' costs in Brazil).

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of the immunopreventable diseases in a population global reality. OBJECTIVE: To discriminate the direct costs of the hospitalizations from the immunopreventable diseases in the Unified Health System (SUS), in Brazil and their areas, between 2008 and 2018. METHODS: A population, observational, descriptive and retrospective study, with data from the information supplied by the DATASUS website, these data were collected during the 2019. RESULTS: It was identified 457,479 hospitalizations in the period; with a total of 2,450,870 days of hospital stay, with total costs of R$389,243,264.85. Only the disease mumps presented a growing tendency in whole areas; the chickenpox was decreasing; the illness whooping cough, yellow fever and tetanus were stationary in this period. CONCLUSIONS: The costs related to immunopreventable diseases were relevant in all the Brazil areas, with tendencies different between the geographic areas and between the several illnesses analysed.

Social participation in the unified health system of Brazil: an exploratory study on the adequacy of health councils to resolution 453/2012.

INTRODUCTION: Social participation is one of the guidelines of the Brazilian health system. Health councils are collegiate instances of participation established by Law 8.142/90. The most recent legal regulation for council organization and functioning was established through Resolution 453/2021. The institution of health councils has a permanent and deliberative nature to act in the formulation, deliberation and control of health policy implementation, including in economic and financial aspects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the compliance of health councils with the directives for the establishment, restructuring and operation of the councils from Brazil, based on Resolution 453/2012. METHODS: An exploratory, descriptive study that used the Health Council Monitoring System as a data source. Qualitative variables were selected to identify the characteristics related to the councils' establishment (legal instruments for establishment), the strategies adopted for restructuring (budget allocation, existence of an executive secretariat, provision of a dedicated office) and the characteristics of the health councils' operation (frequency of regular meetings, existence of a board of directors, the election of the board of directors). RESULTS: The study analyzed three groups of characteristics related to the constitution, strategies adopted for restructuring and the functioning of the councils. Regarding the constitution of the councils, the findings revealed that the vast majority was constituted in accordance with the legislation and, therefore, is in compliance with Resolution 453/2021. In the second group of characteristics that describe the restructuring of councils, the study found that less than half of registered councils are in compliance with the standard. And, finally, in the third group of characteristics, it was found that the boards have adopted different frequencies for regular meetings and approximately 50% of the boards studied have a board of directors. CONCLUSIONS: The councils still do not meet the minimum conditions necessary to fulfil their role in the Unified Health System (SUS), as stipulated in Resolution 453/2021. This situation requires monitoring by public oversight agencies. Despite the increase in popular participation with the creation of the health councils, this study demonstrated that most councils still do not meet the minimum conditions for monitoring public health policy. The improvement of the Health Councils Monitoring System (SIACS) to become an instrument for monitoring the councils, with the definition of goals and results, may contribute to the organization of the councils and, therefore, to the realization of social participation in Brazil.

Malpractice and socioeconomic aspects in neurosurgery: a developing-country reality.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgery occupies a prominent place in medical malpractice, but cases are still underreported in Brazil. This study describes the socioeconomic issues of medical malpractice in neurosurgery procedures and how they culminate in unfavorable outcomes in a developing country. METHODS: The authors analyzed 112 neurosurgical procedures listed in the Brazilian Hospital Information System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde [SIHSUS]) records in the DATASUS (Departamento de Informática do SUS) database between January 2008 and February 2020. Malpractice data were collected using the JusBrasil platform, with the authors searching the name of each of the 112 neurosurgical procedures plus "medical malpractice" among the jurisprudence records for January 2008 to February 2020. A simple linear regression analysis was performed using appropriate software. Analyses were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: According to DATASUS, 842,041 neurosurgical procedures were performed by the Brazilian Unified Health System between January 2008 and February 2020. The mean hospitalization cost for neurosurgical procedures was $714.06, and the average amount paid to professionals per procedure was $145.28 with variations according to the type of practice (public or private) in which they were performed, the complexity of the procedure, and the Brazilian region. The mortality rate and mean length of stay for neurosurgical procedures were 11.37% and 10.15 days, respectively. There were 79 medical malpractice lawsuits in the studied period. In these lawsuits, 26.58% of the court decisions were unfavorable to the neurosurgeons, with a mean compensation per procedure 15 times higher than the median value paid for all professionals in a neurosurgical procedure. The spine subspecialty had more lawsuits, and the brain tumor subspecialty had the most expensive compensation.A lack of resources in public healthcare negatively impacts inpatient care. The mortality rate was 1.5 times higher in public practice than in private practice and was inversely proportional to the MTCs paid for the neurosurgical procedure. Patients with the lower educational levels associated with limited access to good medical care could reflect the lower plaintiff motivation in regions with a low gross domestic product and Human Development Index. In most cases, there is no understanding from either the patient or his family about the health-disease process, nor that there was medical malpractice committed by the physician to be sued. CONCLUSIONS: The socioeconomic inequalities and the population's low awareness of their rights could explain the few malpractice cases reported in Brazil. The authors recommend better decisions regarding the investments to be made in neurosurgical procedures to reduce malpractice lawsuits.

[Recommendations to strengthen primary health care in BrazilRecomendaciones para el fortalecimiento de la atención primaria de salud en Brasil]. / Recomendações para o fortalecimento da atenção primária à saúde no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To formulate strategic recommendations to strengthen primary health care (PHC) in Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) based on expert consultation. METHOD: The present qualitative study, developed from March to August, 2018, included administration of an open questionnaire followed by consensus building among 20 participants representing the five Brazilian regions, selected using the criterion of recognized professional expertise in the field of PHC. Participants answered an online questionnaire created by the authors. The findings were systematized as recommendations, which were submitted for priority ranking by the expert group using a one-round Delphi technique. The final recommendations were discussed in a face-to-face workshop. RESULTS: Of 20 experts, 18 answered the open questionnaire, generating 84 themes for analysis, which were systematized into 44 proposals. Evaluation of these proposals resulted in 20 recommendations, emphasizing expansion of the Family Health Strategy (FHS); enhanced access to PHC; training of professionals for multidisciplinary work in the PHC setting; allocation of technologies to ensure PHC resolvability; improvement of regulation/coordination of services to strengthen a foundational role of PHC in the SUS; human resources, provision of professionals, and support/stimulus for teams; production and dissemination of knowledge; transparency in PHC initiatives; and mediating role of PHC in the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the FHS as the best model to ensure a strong PHC in the SUS, combined with policies that prioritize essential PHC attributes, especially through innovation in care, management, and communication technologies.

OBJETIVO: Formular recomendaciones estratégicas para fortalecer la atención primaria de salud (APS) en el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) en Brasil a partir de una consulta a expertos. MÉTODO: Este estudio cualitativo, realizado entre marzo y agosto del 2018, consistió en emplear un cuestionario abierto y lograr consenso entre 20 participantes representativos de las cinco macrorregiones brasileñas, seleccionados por su reconocida experiencia profesional en la APS. Los participantes respondieron 20 preguntas abiertas en un cuestionario en línea elaborado por los investigadores. Los hallazgos se sistematizaron en forma de recomendaciones, sometidas por el grupo de expertos a una evaluación de prioridades con la metodología Delfos en una sola ronda. Las recomendaciones finales se debatieron en un taller presencial. RESULTADOS: Dieciocho de los 20 especialistas respondieron al cuestionario abierto, que produjo 84 temas sistematizados en 44 propuestas. Después de la evaluación, se formularon 20 recomendaciones, en las cuales se acentuaron la expansión de la estrategia de salud de la familia; la ampliación del acceso a la APS; la formación de profesionales para el trabajo multidisciplinario en la APS; la asignación de tecnologías para garantizar la resolutividad en la APS; el perfeccionamiento de la regulación y la coordinación de servicios para fortalecer la APS como elemento estructurante del SUS; la estructura y el financiamiento; los recursos humanos, la dotación de profesionales, el apoyo y el estímulo a los equipos; la producción y divulgación del conocimiento; la transparencia en las actividades de APS; y la función mediadora de la APS en el sistema de atención de salud. CONCLUSIONES: Los hallazgos refuerzan la estrategia de salud de la familia como el mejor modelo para garantizar una APS fuerte en el SUS, vinculada a políticas que prioricen los atributos esenciales de la APS, sobre todo por medio de innovación en materia de tecnologías asistenciales, de gestión y de comunicación.

Fluvial family health: work process of teams in riverside communities of the Brazilian Amazon.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to understand and analyze the work process of fluvial family health teams in the context of riverside populations in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: Action research was undertaken, conducting focus groups, individual interviews and participant observation with 27 workers of municipal teams of the state of Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon. The analysis was performed by the content, following the theoretical framework of the work process. RESULTS: The following themes emerged: work object of the teams; work agents (who are the workers?); work technologies (the instruments of the process in fluvial health teams); and challenges for achieving the purpose of the work process. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the work object centered on the needs of the individual, family and community. The center for permanent education, supply of materials and inputs to the teams were implemented, and improved workflow for referring users was observed.

Tracking pregnant women displacements in Sao Paulo, Brazil: a complex systems approach to regionalization through the emergence of patterns.

BACKGROUND: The healthcare system can be understood as the dynamic result of the interaction of hospitals, patients, providers, and government configuring a complex network of reciprocal influences. In order to better understand such a complex system, the analysis must include characteristics that are feasible to be studied in order to redesign its functioning. The analysis of the emergent patterns of pregnant women flows crossing municipal borders for birth-related hospitalizations in a region of São Paulo, Brazil, allowed to examine the functionality of the regional division in the state using a complex systems approach and to propose answers to the dilemma of concentration vs. distribution of maternal care regional services in the context of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: Cross-sectional research of the areas of influence of hospitals using spatial interaction methods, recording the points of origin and destination of the patients and exploring the emergent patterns of displacement. RESULTS: The resulting functional region is broader than the limits established in the legal provisions, verifying that 85% of patients move to hospitals with high technology to perform normal deliveries and cesarean sections. The region has high independence rates and behaves as a "service exporter." Patients going to centrally located hospitals travel twice as long as patients who receive care in other municipalities even when the patients' conditions do not demand technologically sophisticated services. The effects of regulation and the agents' preferences reinforce the tendency to refer patients to centrally located hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Displacement of patients during delivery may affect indicators of maternal and perinatal health. The emergent pattern of movements allowed examining the contradiction between wider deployments of services versus concentration of highly specialized resources in a few places. The study shows the potential of this type of analysis applied to other type of patients' flows, such as cancer or specialized surgery, as tools to guide the regionalization of the Brazilian Health System.

Realizing the right to health in Brazil's Unified Health System through the lens of breast and cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Health is recognized as a fundamental right in Brazil's constitution. In the absence of a clearly defined benefit packages of healthcare services that are financed under the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS), courts have become important in adjudicating coverage decisions. Empirical assessments of equity and the right to health tend to focus on simple measures of access. However, these empirical perspectives belie the significant inequalities and rights violations that arise in the case of more complex health needs such as cancer. To shed light on these issues, this paper focuses on the care pathways for breast and cervical cancer and explores access and quality issues that arise at different points along the care pathway with implications for the realization of the right to health in Brazil. METHOD: A mixed method approach is used. The analysis is primarily based on a quantitative analysis of national representative administrative data principally from the cervical and breast cancer information systems and the hospital cancer registry. To gain more insights into the organization of cancer care, qualitative data was collected from the state of Bahia, through document analysis, direct observation, roundtable discussions with health workers (HWs), and structured interviews with health care administrators. RESULTS: The paper reveals that the volume of completed screening exams is well below the estimated need, and a tendency toward lower breast cancer screening rates in poorer states and for women in the lowest income brackets. Only 26% of breast cancer cases and 29% of cervical cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage (stage 0 or I), thereby reducing the survival prospects of patients. Waiting times between confirmed diagnosis and treatment are long, despite new legislation that guarantees a maximum of 60 days. The waiting times are significantly longer for patients that follow the recommended patient pathways, and who are diagnosed outside the hospital. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that there are large variations between states and patients, where the poorest states and patients fare worse on key indicators. More broadly, the paper shows the importance of collecting data both on patient characteristics and health system performance and carry out detailed health system analysis for exposing, empirically, rights violations and for identifying how they can be addressed.