ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS OF PARAIBA STATE HEALTH NETWORK FROM THE REGIONALIZATION MODEL

Abstract

Objective: This article analyses the organization of the Paraiba state public health network from the regionalization model proposed by the Paraiba state government. Material and Methods: This is a documentary study that was primarily based on the Master Regionalization Plan (MRP) and on official documents of the Ministry of Health that guide the construction of these sorts of plans by the states. Results: Data analysis revealed some limitations in the process of implementation of the MRP/Paraiba, such as: (i) absence of social, economic and cultural analyses when selecting venues to represent health regions and (ii) lack of description regarding organization of health care in the state territory. Conclusion: The process of regionalization and the development of MRP in Paraiba did not follow the instruction of the Ministry of Health in some aspects, ignoring the specificities of each health region, which might lead to problems in access and coordination of network services in view of legitimating these health regions in the state. DESCRIPTORES: Health System. Decentralization. Regionalization.