Assistance characterization of philanthropic hospitals of the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Background

The philanthropic hospitals comprise about one-third of the Brazilian hospital sector, with large participation in hospitalizations for the SUS. Many of them are strategic because they are the only hospital units in their municipalities.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the geographic distribution, the healthcare complexity and the hospital bed capacity of the philanthropic hospitals of the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte (RMBH), comparing with tendencies found in the national scope. Additionally, when the municipality presented only one hospital, being philanthropic, it was sought to verify if the hospital bed capacity reaches the minimum recommended by the WHO.

Method

All data used were collected in DATASUS. Data from establishments were used to describe the geographic distribution and healthcare complexity. The analysis of hospital bed capacity required the calculation of Philanthropic Hospital Beds per Thousand Inhabitants (L_HF/_MH), using data from physical resources and population.

Results

In the RMBH, the general philanthropic hospitals, in the majority, are distributed individually by the smaller municipalities, whereas the specialized ones are concentrated in the capital. L_HF/_MH grew in RMBH, in the capital and in the set of smaller municipalities. Itaguara was the only municipality, among those who only have one hospital, being philanthropic, which presented L_HF/_MH higher than the minimum recommended by WHO.

Conclusion

There is great similarity between the national cuts and the RMBH. Many municipalities in this region have only one hospital unit, being philanthropic, a fact that corroborates the importance of these organizations for local health.

Keywords:
charity hospitals; Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte; hospital bed capacity; public health; collective health