National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care: Implications of its implementation in the Brazilian Northeast

Abstract

Introduction: The Ministry of Health has been very interested in initiative to maintain and / or improve the quality of population health, among which the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Basic Care (PMAQ) stands out. Objective: To analyze the changes in the area of work management of the basic care teams after the implementation of the Program of Improvement of Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ) from the perspective of professionals inserted in Primary Care. Method: This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out in the city of Santa Cruz, in the county of the PMAQ implementation in the Trairi region, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, from September to November 2016. Two techniques were used for data collection: the semi-structured interview with the secretary of health and coordinator of basic care of the county, and the technique of focus group with the graduated professionals who work in the Basic Units that joined the PMAQ. Results: From this analysis emerged 3 categories: Implementation of the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care, PMAQ encouraging changes in the health work process, and Evaluation on the PMAQ. Conclusion: The main change made by the PMAQ in the work process of Primary Care professionals was their organization.   KEY WORDS: primary health Care; Unified Health System; human resources.