A REGIONALIZAÇÃO DA SAÚDE: O CAMINHO PARA O SUS EM TODOS OS TERRITÓRIOS?

In 2016, the Amazonas State Secretariat of Health invited public institutions from various sectors to share their decentralized experiences of regional planning. The vast territorial extension, population dispersion and accessibility conditions were the highlighted challenges for all. In public health, the proposition of an alternative that adequately responds to the characteristics of the place and at the same time complies with national guidelines has raised the debate on the feasibility of the regionalization of health policy as normatively planned in such a unique state. This paper highlighted two theorical assumptions raised with regionalization policy to debate the capacity of this arrangement to address the demand of the State of Amazonas: organization of regions to guarantee economy of scale and the continuity of geographic space between neighboring municipalities. We present some local propositions that need to be contemplated within the national arrangement in order to address the local reality, surpassing the hegemonic policy instituted. Regionalization of health, like every strategy, is small-scale, but in order to achieve its objectives in the States of Amazonas, it is necessary to scale up to recognize local details and thus adopt proper regional solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]