Eqüidade em saúde

Abstract

Equity is the central theme of discussion in issue 15/2 of Saúde & Sociedade, especially related to modern state and sanitary reform in Brazil. The authors bring important contributions to the reflection of the theme, mainly in the context of the implementation and evaluation of the Unified Health System in the country. The first article, written by Carme Borrell from Public Health Agency of Barcelona, analyses the causes of social inequalities in health, highlighting the role of sanitary services, of financing, and of services organization, recognizing that those do not represent the main determinants of inequalities. As example, presents inequalities in the use of sanitary services in Catalunha where there is a National Health System. The worry of Gastão Wagner S. Campos is the analysis of the different concepts of equity and their practical implications. Considers that there is an absolute opposition between the analysis of the concept in the systems of laws and social values and the analysis of the everyday functioning of the system. In the case of Brazil, the author calls attention for the progress of equity in health with the implementation of the Unified Health System-SUS, in the last decade, side by side with the permanence of inequalities in the access, financing and use of services. On the other hand, reminds that it is necessary to recognize that some policies as agrarian reform, job generation, protection of the work income value and income transfer for those in most vulnerable economic situation have more immediate effects in the decrease of inequalities than public health, security, housing and education policies. The central question posed by Jairnilson Silva Paim from UFBA is if the Unified Health System-SUS can be considered a public policy to promote equity. But to which SUS project the question is directed? To formal SUS, to democratic SUS, or to the real SUS? Considering the cycles of any public policy, it is necessary, as highlights the author, to analyze the pha