Primary Health Care Strengthening Program (PHC)

Health Care Planning

Lever
Training of public health managers and professionals

Type of grant
Model development

Ceará (Eastern Coast of Jaguaribe and Cariri) and the Sertão region of Pernambuco

Benefited population
Public managers and technical teams

Initiative supported since 2022 Partners
Parceiros da iniciativa

Health Care Planning (PAS) is a management tool that organizes work macro-processes and strengthens Health Care Networks (RAS), with the objective of ensuring the right care at the right time and in the right place. Conducted by the National Council of Health Secretaries (Conass) since 2005, the initiative is supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Umane since 2022, and the National Council of Municipal Health Secretariats (Conasems).

The proposal focuses on the integration of Primary Health Care (PHC), Specialized Outpatient Care (AAE), and, in the current cycle, Hospital Care (AH). The process involves agreements with managers, professional training, structuring and reviewing workflows, organizing lines of care, monitoring indicators, and strengthening regional governance, always based on the needs of the population in each territory.

Since 2022, PAS has been implemented in three health macro-regions: Sertão de Pernambuco, Litoral Leste Jaguaribe, and Cariri in Ceará. In total, 100 municipalities benefit, home to 3.1 million people. In 2025, Cariri became a territory for systemic experimentation of PAS, with simultaneous actions in primary, specialized, and hospital care, in addition to a complementary governance axis. In the region, five training stages were conducted for PHC and AAE, with more than 1,300 healthcare professionals participating.

Outcome

Structuring of municipal Health Care Networks, strengthening teams, promoting effective service integration, and ensuring appropriate care for the population.

+17,000

participations by healthcare professionals in PAS training cycles across the three health macro-regions between 2023 and 2025.

94%

of UBSs in Litoral Leste Jaguaribe and Sertão de Pernambuco already operate with block scheduling.

89

of these UBSs perform family risk stratification.

Testimonial