Health care delivery in the Amazon of the Waters

Abstract

This article describes how the characteristics of the Amazon floodplain affect the organization of local health systems. We chose a region in the west of the state of Amazonas which is characteristic of this situation. We interviewed local health managers and mapped the routes taken by users to access health services. Smaller municipalities are extremely dependent on services in the regional hub and capital of the state. Patients, except emergency patients, are transported via waterways, resulting in longer travel times and higher costs than land routes. The seasonal flooding cycle also affects travel times, costs and prevalent health problems. We identified some points of tension between the rules and regulations governing the configuration of local health regions and the regional reality. Promoting health in the Amazon inevitably requires the health system to adapt and be resilient to local geographical characteristics and patient flows.