The study aimed to analyze the perceptions of managers about the challenges in the formation of Health Care Networks in Brazil. Semistructured interviews with seven managers involved with the formulation of public health policies were carried out. The speeches were analyzed with the aid of software Analyse Lexicale par Contexte d´un Ensemble de Segments de Texte (ALCESTE). We identified three main themes. The first was called "Fragmentation of SUS hinders the right to health", and was constituted by class one, which addresses factors that contribute to the fragmentation of the health system, and class five, which addresses health as a social right. The second main theme, called "The State of SUS in shaping networks", is composed of class two, which shows the difficulties in the regionalization of health; three, which deals with regional governance; and four, which deals with the contracting of regional networks. The third axis, "Networks and completeness", is formed only by class six, which addresses the challenges of networking to ensure comprehensive care. The stage of development of regional networks of care is considered incipient, yet the regulation of Health Law containing guidelines for the organization of regionalization is considered strategic for the organization of Health Care Networks.
Regionalized Heal thcare Networks; regionalization; Unified Health Care System
