Evaluation of the reference and counter-reference system based on the responses of the Primary Care professionals in the first External Evaluation cycle of PMAQ-AB in the state of Paraíba

In this work, are analyzed the organization, coordination and assistance of the health care networks in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, based on the data obtained from the 1st cycle of the external evaluation of the National Program for Access and Quality Improvement in Primary Care (PMAQ-AB). It was carried on a cross-sectional study and the data were descriptively analyzed by its absolute and percentage values. It was concluded that there are weaknesses in the integration of the health care network in the state of Paraíba/Brazil concerning the planning and definition of the flow, especially in counter-reference which may compromise the integrity and the role of primary care in order to manage public care and health network.

Primary Health Care; Unified Health System; Health services accessibility; Health evaluation; Delivery of health care