Desafios do processo de educação permanente em saúde

Abstract

The Permanent Education in Health (Educação Permanente em Saúde - EPS) is a pedagogical strategy recognized by the Pan American Health Organization in Latin America as a method to consolidate public healthcare systems around the world since regular educational activities in health alone are not capable of fulfill the needs of the population and increase the quality of the service. This study discuss the Permanent Education in Health in the city of São Carlos SP and aims to identify and problematize the limitations and potentialities pointed by the local healthcare workers and managers in other to contribute to the development of the strategy in the city. The study uses a qualitative research method through semi-structured interviews of nine actors directly related to the local EPS activities. The results show that the EPS in the city is weakened by different factors such as: fragmented actions in education; lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of the concept of EPS by the workers and mainly by the managers; and above all, rupture of project and political policies due to changes in the government political party. Despite the obstacles, the study also revels positive aspects of the EPS implementation in the city, like: good partnership between healthcare network and educational institutions; investment in activities of education in health; and involvement in governmental forums of EPS discussions and planning. The study conclude that EPS can evolve by increasing the articulation between the players involved in the public health system SUS (teaching, management, care, and social control), to guarantee the continuous consolidation the National Policy of Permanent Education in Health.