STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES AND FINANCING PERSPECTIVES OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: IMPACTS ON UNIVERSAL ACCESS IN TIMES OF CRISIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/689jp977Keywords:
Primary Health Care; Health Financing; Unified Health System; Universal Access; Health Policies.Abstract
Primary Health Care constitutes the structural axis of health systems guided by the principle of universal access, playing an essential role in the organization of health care networks and in the coordination of care at the territorial level. In this sense, the stability of public financing allocated to primary health care becomes a fundamental condition for the sustainability of universal health systems, especially in contexts characterized by fiscal constraints, economic crises, and increasing complexity of health demands. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the structural challenges and financing perspectives of Primary Health Care, discussing their impacts on ensuring universal access to health services. This research adopts a qualitative approach, developed through a review of recent scientific literature, with the analysis of national and international academic productions that address the organization and financing of primary health care within universal health systems. The results indicate that recent changes in the financing mechanisms of primary care, particularly in the Brazilian context, have produced significant effects on the distribution of resources among municipalities, revealing inequalities related to administrative capacity, territorial socioeconomic conditions, and different local management structures. Furthermore, health systems that prioritize consistent investments in primary health care demonstrate greater capacity for care coordination, greater efficiency in the use of public resources, and greater resilience in the face of health and institutional crises. Thus, it is concluded that strengthening the financing of Primary Health Care constitutes a fundamental element for consolidating universal access and ensuring the sustainability of public health systems, requiring public policies guided by equity, budgetary stability, and cooperative governance among different levels of government.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Clarkson Henrique Santos Lemos, Ebenézer José Santiago de Almeida da Silva , Antônio Eduardo de Lima Filho , José Alexandre Albino Pinheiro , Ellen Caroline de Almeida Coelho, Cristiano Torres Lopes , Thainá Klosowski Kulicz, Cristiane Maria dos Santos Silva , Marcio Harrison dos Santos Ferreira , Valter Gabriel da Rocha da Silva
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