Changes offered by the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the changes that the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care has imparted to the primary health care services. The survey was conducted in 2014 in the city of Grossos, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Method: the study scenario was the Family Health Strategies (FHS), which have joined the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care. We interviewed 10 health professionals, with secondary and higher levels of education, and four managers responsible for the program's coordination. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: three main changes were identified: work organization; material resources and infrastructure of the FHS; and records organization. Conclusion: the program enabled the production of changes and induces not only physical reforms in the units, but also the evaluation and monitoring of ongoing performance in primary health care.