Modes of care production and universal access – an analysis of federal guidance on the work of Primary Healthcare teams in Brazil

Abstract

This article analyzes federal guidance on the organization of primary healthcare work processes and the modes of production of care aimed at promoting universal access to services. A qualitative document analysis was undertaken of documents related to the National Health Policy, National Program for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality, More Doctors Program, and National Tele health Networks Brazil Program. Five thematic categories were defined for content analysis: staff training, valuing staff and work, organization of health actions for/with people and communities, complexity of healthcare and multiprofessional work, and collective construction of health as a right. The results show that advances were made in promoting universal access, particularly in the documents issued before 2015, with actions related to staff training, welcoming, the establishment of evaluation processes, and expansion of the scope of actions. However, there has been a shift towards the universal coverage model, as shown by measures encouraging reductions in the functional diversity of health teams and the flexibilization of working hours, hindering the implementation of the SUS as an inclusive social policy.

Key words
Primary Healthcare; Access to health services; Healthcare; Universal coverage; Unified Health System