Prospects for the region and networks in Brazilian health policy

Regions and health care networks are strategies recently adopted in the Brazilian health policy. Leading questions: what conceptions of region and health networks inform the policy, how are they combined, at what times and with what objectives? The aim of this study is to analyze the prospects for the region and networks adopted in health policy in the period of 2001-2011. We used the reference of human geography (critical geography) and public policies analysis (historical institutionalism), bibliographic research, documentary research and secondary data. Were defined three induction phases apart from these strategies, guided by different theoretical and political views and national and international interests.

Regional health planning; Health policy; Unified Health System; Health planning; Delivery of health care