Challenges faced by Municipal Health Departments were discussed at a public hearing in MG

The challenges faced by municipal health secretaries were discussed, this Monday (22/4/24), in a hearing of the Municipal Affairs and Regionalization Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais (ALMG). On that occasion, the creation of a Parliamentary Front in Defense of the Municipal Health Departments of Minas Gerais was also debated.

Representative Lucas Lasmar (Rede), who requested the hearing and is the first signatory of the parliamentary front, praised the importance of this movement and thanked the participation of several secretaries representing all federative entities – municipalities, State and Union. The parliamentarian highlighted that the front will be an important instrument in valuing municipal health managers.

He released research results that show the main difficulties highlighted by municipal secretaries, such as: achieving better qualifications, expanding the use of indicators as planning instruments, strengthening health management, increasing financial resources and improving health conditions. work.

Carried out by the National Council of Municipal Health Secretariats (Conasems) with 3,899 municipal health managers in Brazil, the survey showed the diversity of academic, professional and political profiles in this segment.

Some worrying data were pointed out by Lucas Lasmar, such as that 54% of managers have never held management positions, with their turnover being high. Every month, in Brazil, 300 secretaries are replaced, who are responsible for between 20% and 30% of the municipal budget.

“It’s a huge challenge to make everything work in this scenario. With this year’s elections, there will be 30% to 50% renewal in municipal health departments”, said deputy Lucas Lasmar.

Project will increase funding from Cosems-MG

Representatives of the Council of Municipal Health Departments of Minas Gerais (Cosems-MG) congratulated Lucas Lasmar on the initiative of Bill (PL) 2,155/24, which regulates State assistance in funding the institutional activities of Cosems-MG.

According to the proposal, to be analyzed by the Constitution and Justice Commission, this council will receive resources from the State Health Fund (FES) to cover institutional expenses and will be able to enter into agreements with the State.

The president of Cosems-MG, Edivaldo Farias Berizal, highlighted that the PL will guarantee better working conditions for managers, paying for meetings and other events and, also, the representation of technicians appointed by the secretaries.

“It is a proposal to strengthen Cosems, guaranteeing it more stability and financial condition; I ask that the project be approved by the Assembly, which has always been our partner”, he called. She recalled that the Council has representation in the 28 administrative health regions of the State, providing greater reach to the work.

In the same vein, Eduardo Luiz da Silva, executive secretary of Cosems-MG, stated that the proposition will enable Cosems’ sustainability. He recalled that he has always fought to increase transfers to the Council, through agreements and other forms, but that the project will bring peace of mind to managers.

“Cosems will be able to exercise its vocation of bringing knowledge to managers and will have greater independence in discussions, with a better agreement on public policy”, said Eduardo Luiz da Silva, executive secretary of Cosems-MG.

Continued training will be guaranteed

Hisham Mohamad Hamida, president of the National Council of Municipal Health Secretariats (Conasens), assessed that “the health area is the largest producer of data and the one with the least information”. Therefore, he reinforced the importance of training managers at all levels, highlighting the Conasens course “Being a SUS municipal manager”.

The leader emphasized that Minas was the first state to release resources so that each municipal secretariat could become a continuing education center. He defended PL 2,155/24, which places Cosems in the State budget and suggested that the calculation base for each municipality be R$1 per inhabitant.

Lúcio Alvim, vice-president of Cosems, and Mauro Guimarães, executive secretary of Conasems, also congratulated Lucas Lasmar on the proposal.

The first said that it should be seen not as creating an expense, but as an investment. The latter highlighted that the project points to an appreciation of municipal health managers, who are the only ones among the secretaries who can be held legally responsible for their actions.

Better pay

The Secretary of State for Health, Fábio Baccheretti, declared that the government supports any action to strengthen health managers, as it respects the relationship between the State and municipalities.

“I greatly respect this bipartite relationship and I believe it is important that we are aligned in intention, without needing to agree with everything; after all, everything we do is to simplify your lives”, he said, addressing the municipal secretaries.

He valued the proposal to qualify the 853 health managers. “Some secretaries have already demanded payment of resources that had actually been paid months ago; we have to qualify a lot”, he reinforced. He also highlighted the need to raise awareness among mayors about the importance of better paid managers.

And deputy Chiara Biondini (PP) expressed support for the approval of her colleague’s project. She considered the proposal to train municipal managers important, so that they do not miss any opportunities.

“We know the responsibility of municipal secretaries; it is from them that the population demands”, he concluded.

Via the communications department of the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais.