Access to health care: limitations experienced by users of brazilian health system concerning the obtention of a right

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency and limitations of access to health care under the perspective of users of Brazilian Health System (SUS) in a city southern of Brazil. After SUS was created in 1988, universal access to health became a principle. Evaluating the access of users of SUS is a sensitive indicator to evaluate the services provided by the public health system. A qualitative research was developed with users from two basic health care units: one of them offered Family Health Program and the other did not. Two groups of users were organized for data collection, in January 2009. The focal group technique was applied. The meetings were recorded, transcribed and analyzed. The emerging categories from analysis were: Structuring of local health care network, The Emergency Ward as the only entrance door into the network; Limitation of users’ access to the Emergency Ward. Barriers regarding access to health found in such study portray a local reality, showing that the entrance door to health care occurs through the Emergency Ward of the hospital, as well as through the basic health care unit.