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OBJETIVO: Analisar as mudanças decorrentes do processo de descentralização do Sistema Único de Saúde na governança do setor saúde no âmbito do poder local entre 1996 e 2006. MÉTODOS: Um questionário foi aplicado aos gestores municipais de saúde de todo o Brasil em 1996 e novamente em 2006. Foram coletadas informações sobre as características de inovação da gestão em três dimensões: social, gerencial e assistencial. O presente artigo analisa resultados referentes à dimensão social da gestão (relação entre a gestão municipal e os diferentes atores da sociedade) a partir de quatro atributos: elaboração do orçamento (qual o grau de influência de atores variados), estabelecimento de prioridades, prestação de contas e fluxo de informações para a sociedade. RESULTADOS: Aumentou a influência dos secretários e dos conselhos municipais de saúde na elaboração do orçamento, em detrimento da influência dos políticos locais. Na definição de prioridades em saúde, reduziu-se a solicitação dos políticos locais e a demanda espontânea e fortaleceram-se o parecer do corpo técnico e as propostas dos conselhos e das conferências de saúde. Observa-se a institucionalização da prática de prestação de contas em virtude da diversificação do conjunto de atores a que se direciona (especialmente câmara de vereadores e conselho de saúde) e dos mecanismos utilizados, embora continue prevalecendo o uso de balancete periódico (que implica em conhecimento técnico para interpretação dos resultados). Por fim, as informações oferecidas à população ainda se referem acima de tudo às ações e campanhas de saúde e ao funcionamento de serviços, embora tenha crescido a divulgação de informações inovadoras à sociedade. Esse padrão se observa em todas as regiões e portes populacionais, com tendências mais progressivas na região Sul. CONCLUSÕES: A relação entre estado e sociedade modificou-se em direção a um padrão mais democrático de governança local, embora tenham sido mantidas práticas governamentais concentradoras de poder na tomada de decisão. O processo de descentralização ainda encontra obstáculos importantes para a concretização de um modelo de maior participação, controle social, responsabilização e interação entre Estado e sociedade.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes in local health care governance resulting from the decentralization process associated with the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil between 1996 and 2006. METHODS: A questionnaire was answered in 1996 and again in 2006 by all city officials involved in health care management in Brazil. Information was collected on the innovative characteristics of administrative practices in terms of three dimensions: social, management, and care. The present article analyzes the results relating to the social dimension (relationship between municipal officials and the various community actors) according to four attributes: preparing the budget (degree of influence of various actors), establishing priorities, accountability, and flow of information to the community. RESULTS: The influence of municipal secretaries of health and health councils on budget preparation has increased, with a decrease of local politician influence. In prioritizing health issues, local politicians and spontaneous demands have also become less influential, with strengthening of the influence of technical opinions and proposals by health councils and conferences. Public disclosure of results has become institutionalized as a result of the diversification of stakeholders (especially municipal secretaries and health councils) and of the methods available for disclosure, even though balance sheets are still the most common type of information disclosed (which imply technical knowledge for interpretation of results). Finally, the information conveyed to the community still mainly refers to health actions and campaigns and functioning of health services, even though a larger amount of innovative information is being communicated. This was observed in all regions and in cities of all sizes, with a more progressive trend in the South of Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between government and society has changed toward a more democratic standard of local governance, despite the maintenance of centralized government decision-making practices. The process of decentralization still faces important obstacles to the establishment of a more participative model, with enhanced social control, accountability and interaction between government and society.

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RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes in local health care governance resulting from the decentralization process associated with the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil between 1996 and 2006. METHODS: A questionnaire was answered in 1996 and again in 2006 by all city officials involved in health care management in Brazil. Information was collected on the innovative characteristics of administrative practices in terms of three dimensions: social, management, and care. The present article analyzes the results relating to the social dimension (relationship between municipal officials and the various community actors) according to four attributes: preparing the budget (degree of influence of various actors), establishing priorities, accountability, and flow of information to the community. RESULTS: The influence of municipal secretaries of health and health councils on budget preparation has increased, with a decrease of local politician influence. In prioritizing health issues, local politicians and spontaneous demands have also become less influential, with strengthening of the influence of technical opinions and proposals by health councils and conferences. Public disclosure of results has become institutionalized as a result of the diversification of stakeholders (especially municipal secretaries and health councils) and of the methods available for disclosure, even though balance sheets are still the most common type of information disclosed (which imply technical knowledge for interpretation of results). Finally, the information conveyed to the community still mainly refers to health actions and campaigns and functioning of health services, even though a larger amount of innovative information is being communicated. This was observed in all regions and in cities of all sizes, with a more progressive trend in the South of Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between government and society has changed toward a more democratic standard of local governance, despite the maintenance of centralized government decision-making practices. The process of decentralization still faces important obstacles to the establishment of a more participative model, with enhanced social control, accountability and interaction between government and society.

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