Organizational and Management Study About Family Health Public Services in a Brazilian Municipality

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the operational model of primary healthcare network in a Brazilian large size municipality, with more than 1 million inhabitants. It is a qualitative and exploratory study conducted through document analysis and semi structured interviews, in five primary healthcare clinic managers. In order to support the research, the article presents the main literature understandings for network in public sector and Family Health Strategy (FHS). To analyze the object, the authors mapped the local healthcare network, taking into consideration healthcare operation’s structure, roles, responsibilities, contracts, and agreements. Research results are grouped into four main aspects: i) sourcing decision and network design, ii) service design and service standardization, iii) operational performance and effectiveness of the public health service delivery, iv) local manager autonomy.