Supply and demand of the medium-complexity/SUS: relation with primary health care

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva 2010-06, Vol.15, p.1009-1019
• Main Authors: Pires, Maria Raquel Gomes Maia, Göttems, Leila Bernarda Donato, Martins, Cristiano Mundim Ferreira, Guilhem, Dirce, Alves, Elioenai Dornelles
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: Health services; Primary care; Supply & demand
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/S1413-81232010000700007

This work aims at investigating the supply and demand of the medium-complexity services from the Federal District and surrounding municipalities from the state of Goiás. Our hypothesis is that the services organization offer of primary care (PC) from the Federal District (DF) and its surroundings overloads the medium-complexity services (MC), contributing to less equity in terms of communities access. Our objective is to analyze the demand for MC (medium-complexity) services in DF (Federal District) and its relation with PC (Primary Care); to quantify the origin, health problem, reason, transportation time and performed procedures of the ones who go to the Federal District hospitals; to set up priorities of managerial changes in the Brazilian Health System (SUS) in order to have more access to users. The evaluation was triangulation of methods, and complementing qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study of the offer via the analysis of SUS information systems, and the demand through a survey with 1,585 users of seven hospitals of the Federal District. There is a sub utilization of services offer at the Federal District, with duplicity of basic actions among hospitals and other health centers. It is recommended a revision in the health services regionalization and hierarchy of the Federal District and Goiás, as well as more investments on implementation of technology to primary care.