ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES IN THE COURSE OF CREATING A REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT IN THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Abstract

This article aimed to identify the reasons that led to the creation of the VII Regional Public Health Units (VII URSAP) and the challenges encountered in the implementation of this URSAP. This is a descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, which applied semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. The data were analyzed according to the thematic content analysis technique, proposed by Laurence Bardin. The speeches of the participants and documents analyzed confirmed the need to create the VII URSAP in different governance spaces and a request by the municipalities of the 7th Health Region that needed technical support from the State Secretariat of Public Health of Rio Grande do Norte for better execution of the its work processes and resolution of the health needs of its territory, as well as strengthening health agreements in the Regional Intermanagers Commission. The main difficulty faced in the implementation of this Health Region is the need to improve the number of personnel, physical structure, governance spaces and effective communication. Furthermore, the municipalities of the 7th Health Region need continuous regional support, at the three levels of health care, since the VII URSAP is in the implementation phase, acting on the most urgent and priority demands, requiring strengthening planning, monitoring and evaluation of health conditions to achieve the responsibilities of its competence.