Primary Health Care in Brazil
It is observed that the institutional support strategy generated and strengthened socio-technical networks articulated in function of the National Policy of Primary Health Care, however, the necessity of implementation of priority programs demands it to be better considered in the design of this management strategy.
Abstract
Primary health care in Brazil has a well-organised approach which is the result of sustained commitment to providing high quality primary health care for the whole population.The Family Health Strategy, launched in 1994, has been a key pillar of the efforts to reorganise and strengthen primary health care in Brazil.Since its implementation, a growing share of the Brazilian population can benefit from free access to a community-based approach to preventive and primary health care services.An extensive body of academic research has provided evidence of the key contributions of the Family Health Strategy to the reduction of almost 18 deaths per 1 000 birth in infant mortality rate observed between 1990 and 2019 in Brazil.The programme has also been associated with reduction in mortality and hospitalisations for chronic disease.Recent estimations also show that the implementation of the Family Health Strategy was associated with a reduction of 45% of the standardised hospitalisation rates per 10 000 inhabitants between 2001 and 2016, mostly for primary care conditions such as asthma, gastroenteritis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.However, as some challenges are overcome, new ones approach, as Brazilian population ages, population risk factors such as obesity are on the rise, and emerging pandemic threats require resilience and adaptability. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN BRAZIL © OECD 2021This review was prepared by the OECD Secretariat to draw on evidence and best practices from across OECD health care systems to support Brazil in strengthening its primary health care sector, and guarantee it is responsive to people's changing needs, capable of offering preventive, continuous and co-ordinated care equally across the country.