The Regionalization Process for Universal Health Coverage in Brazil (2008–2015)

The objective of this article is to analyze the development of the public and private offer for the universalization of health services, specifically, for the progression of the public network. The time period examined is from 2008 to 2015, when there was considerable economic growth and expansion of private health insurance and an unprecedented historical period with economic growth and reduction of social inequality. Across 5570 municipalities, the multivariate analysis model was used to estimate the level of concentration and the imbalance (heterogeneity) of installed health capacity of the network of health care services. Public spending on investment and human resources showed positive variation in all regions and in almost all population strata. The offer by the Unified Health System (public) of primary health care increased by 8000 new establishments in all regions, especially in previously uncovered cities and cities that had shortages of public health services. Public universalization almost reached its maximum, with about 70% of municipalities. The only setback was the significant reduction of 50% in the number of private establishments in primary health care services. The data suggest a positive movement toward the universalization of health services in Brazil, with the concentration of high-complexity care and the heterogeneity of the installed capacity being points for improvement.