Democracy and Health: reflections and challenges before the 16th Brazilian National Health Conference

Abstract

This text aimed to analyze characteristics and challenges of the 16th Brazilian National Health Conference based on the conference three thematic axes: Health as a right; Consolidation of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) principles; Adequate and enough funding for SUS. Given the initiatives to dismantle the social security model and the setbacks of social protection policies, to delimitate health in an expanded sense is essential to defend the SUS project. We analyzed the proposal of Universal Health Coverage as an alternative to universal systems. We then presented the restrictions of universal coverage and how the restrictions can threaten the SUS principles. We also discussed insufficient SUS funding and possible worsening in the face of fiscal austerity policies. To strengthen social participation and to monitor the proposals approved at the conference are necessary

Social control and nursing performance in defense of life in the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Nevertheless, the 16 th Brazilian National Health Conference, "8ª + 8 Saúde é Democracia", named in honor of the historic 8 th Conference, brought together several movements in health as a strategy to convene fighters to build a resistance movement and day of struggles in defense of democracy, social rights and health. In a fierce game of ideological dispute, the 16 th was a space for the reaffirmation of SUS as an emancipatory project, despite insistent liberal attempts to disseminate privatizing ideas, more or less hidden (8) . However, the counter-reformist avalanche of the current government demanded and continues to demand more strength than the conference can add to the necessary confrontation with SUS dismantling project, already weakened by the serious de-financing since 2016.…”