Public Health Policies in Fortaleza

from the movement for health reform to administrative reform

Abstract

The purpose of this artille is to describe the conformation of public health policies in Fortaleza, Ceará, from the pro-Sanitary Reform movement to the Administrative Reform, in order to know how the organization of basic health services evolved. All data were systematized according to the periodís correspondent to municipal administrations from 1986 to 2004. Some information about the Administrative Reform was obtained from the Diário Oficial do Município - DOM (Official Gazette of Fortaleza) through consultation of laws and decrees. The results revealed processual changes in the administrative structure of Fortaleza and in conformation of health policies. There was also a transformation in the work processes of the administration of Fortaleza County as well as adoption of some basic principles established by Sistema  Único de Saúde - SUS (National Health System) such as decentralization, interaction of different sectors and hierarchical structure. Additionally the study points out distortions between what it is regulated on the laws, decrees and what it was established, that is, basic attention to health is organized on verticalized, excluding, modelar programmes, despite its legal support and organizational structure to consolidate an assistance model which promotes health and prevention of diseases and risks to the population.