Regional management in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: case study in São Paulo

Abstract

At the end of 2019 the world was surprised by COVID-19, which arrived in Brazil at the beginning of 2020,  causing the Unified Health System (SUS) to adopt  immediate strategies to meet health needs, as well as  putting in check all the obstacles that the health  system has been facing in recent years. In the state of  São Paulo it was not different from the rest of the  country in relation to the confrontation. This study  aimed to identify the main strategies adopted in 5  health regions of São Paulo, focusing on regional  management, analyzing the processes and practices  adopted to face the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a  qualitative study, carried out through a multiple case  study, with an exploratory approach, based on field  research and regional workshops. In this study, the  health regions were able to prove the importance of  intersectoral actions in the health system. It was noted the great role of municipalities in these actions and  their union, strengthening the role of regionalization  and expanding the importance of governance in  health. In addition, the health regions were  strengthened because they exercised their leadership  role and organized actions with the municipalities.