Comparative analysis of trends in federal public spending on primary care and hospital and outpatient service in Northeastern Brazil (2017–2021)

Abstract

Introduction:  The financing of health systems is a strategic component to achieve the objectives of protecting and improving the health of citizens. In Brazil, it does not cover its actual expenses, with negative repercussions on the poor access of the population to this service. Knowing the peculiarities of health expenses is essential to improve care.

Objective:  To comparatively analyze the trend of federal spending on primary care and hospital and outpatient service in the capitals of the Brazilian Northeast.

Methods:  This is a quantitative analytical study using a historical series from 2017 to 2021, which analyzed the total expenses settled with primary care and hospital and outpatient service in the nine capitals of the Brazilian Northeast.

Results:  From 2017 to 2021, there was an increase in total health expenditures in eight of the nine Northeastern capitals, with Aracaju showing a 10% reduction. We found a direct relationship between the highest amounts spent on primary care and, concomitantly, with the lowest amounts spent on hospital and outpatient service.

Conclusion:  The distribution of expenses with primary care and hospital service is unbalanced, and hospital and outpatient service represents a greater burden in settled expenses when compared to the first indicator.

Keywords:
health expenditures; primary attention; hospital assistance