ICML 9

9º Congreso Mundial de Información en Salud y Bibliotecas

Salvador, Bahia - Brasil, 20 a 23 de septiembre de 2005

BVS4

4a. Reunión de Coordinación Regional de la BVS

19 y 20 de septiembre de 2005

Building the basis for a health economics national information center in Brazil

Participantes:
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Departamento de Economia da Saúde da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Departamento de Economia da Saúde da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Departamento de Economia da Saúde da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Departamento de Economia da Saúde da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Departamento de Economia da Saúde da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Grupo de Pesquisa em Economia da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Departamento de Economia da Saúde da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Coordenação Geral de Documentação e Informação da Subsecretaria de Assuntos Administrativos da Secretaria Executiva do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil
  • Coordenação Geral de Documentação e Informação da Subsecretaria de Assuntos Administrativos da Secretaria Executiva do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (Brasília, D.F., BRASIL)  - Brasil

Building the basis for a health economics national information center in Brazil

Rationale: Health Economics (HE) studies, the best conditions of available resources distribution to assure the population the best care and health quality, taking into consideration limited means and resources. The necessity of efficiency and effectiveness of the governmental action in the decentralized management of the health system, as well as the increasing technological incorporation in the health sector, establish the urgency of the development and consolidation of the HE field in Brazil.
Objectives: To develop a diagnosis of the HE area in Brazil aiming the establishment of an HE Information National Center.
Methodology: It was carried out a survey of HE research groups currently registered in National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). It was inventoried the Brazilian scientific production in HE, published between January, 1999 and June, 2004 and preparing to launch in BIREME Virtual Health Library (PAHO/WHO). Data collected were organized in a database and classified in two ways, first according to type of the study considering health economics terms, secondary, according to the focus of the study in the health sector: medicines, equipments, procedures, etc. The results were organized using tables and graphs of frequency distributions, considering geographic regions, types of institution and topics of research.  Moreover, semi-structured interviews had been carried out with stakeholders to know their opinion about the establishment of an HE Information National Center and to identify factors that enable or make difficult the development of HE area in the country.  The analysis of the interviews content was made using the method & quot;Speech of Collective Citizen & quot;.
Results: 175 research groups were selected, 29% (51) presented works related to the HE thematic areas, presenting diversified performance scope, being concentrated in the Southeastern region of the country.  2.617 publications had been evaluated, but only 14% (376) were related to HE. Most of the studies was published in 2002, in Portuguese language and had presented as main topics: management, financing, allocative efficiency and equity in the distribution of health resources. The analysis of the contents of 48 interviews showed favorable opinion of the stakeholders to the implementation of HE Information National Center. These interviewers identified the necessity to organize the demanded and produced information, to support the planning, to optimize the expenses and to train managers and professionals of health in this area. 
Conclusions: The carried out diagnosis allows identifying important aspects to the understanding of the development of HE field, in Brazil, between 1999 and 20 04. The analysis of the stakeholders’ speeches configured a scene with the main aspects to be considered in the construction of HE Information National Center that would be capable to detect, to articulate and to spread outstanding studies and information for the process of taking decision in the health system.
Disclosure information: This research was carried out on behalf of Brazilian Ministry of Health. The authors are employees of Federal University of Minas Gerais and Brazilian Ministry of Health and have no conflict of interest regarding to this project.