Incorporation of the Research Findings by the Managers of the Brazilian Public Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS)

Abstract

A “knowledge-based” society considers essential the effort of scientists. However, there complaints of the lack of the use of scientific contributions by the policy makers. Partially, this contradiction is due to the difference between the pace of the survey and the urgency for decision making. It is not accepted, in general, the possibility of the formulation of public policies based on scientific evidences. In the field of
Public Health, the social determination and the context make scientific conclusions vary. In the debate regarding the Brazilian Public Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS), we mention an important contribution: the five stars of the strategic health agenda (Cebes, Abrasco). The Science and Technology Department (Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia – DECIT), since its establishment, formulated a research program to the SUS, which is an emblematic creature with the mission of “strengthening the SUS”. In an effort which involved the scientific community and the National Health Council (Conselho Nacional de Saúde), a Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation in Health (Política de CT&I em Saúde) and a Priorities Agenda (Agenda de Prioridades) have been produced. The participative process gave as a final result a more democratic profile than the usual. Currently there are themes that are more and more frequent in the international literature which cannot be ignored by the Incentive Prize in Science and Technology for the SUS (Prêmio de Incentivo em Ciência e Tecnologia para o SUS - PPSUS): KT (Knowledge Translation) and KTA (Knowledge to Action); mHealth, cellular phones on health; Health in All Policies (Saúde em Todas Políticas).