PRIMARY ATTENTION RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNANCE MODEL OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN COMBAT THE COVID-19 IN BRAZIL

Abstract

This work presents an analysis of the Primary Health Care (PHC) services response to attempts by the Ministry of Health (MH) to financially induce actions aimed at coping with the covid-19 pandemic, taking into account the institution’s governance model for the process of formulation and implementation such policies. This is a policies analysis study using mixed methods, with documental research and data analysis on the production of actions by teams working in PHC, added to the discussion about the legitimacy of MH as coordinator of the governance network of the Unified Health System. It was noticed that, in most situations, the ordinances published by the MH did not produce any production increase in the listed variables. Taking into account that more than R$1.7 billion was contributed by the ordinances, a substantial increase in production was expected. However, despite the governability of government action during the pandemic, it is believed that the negationist, omissive posture of conflict and rupture of the federative pact with states and municipalities led to a deterioration of governance to the point of to see corroded the legitimacy of the MH in conducting the policy to face the pandemic in PHC.