Resumo

BRANCO, Maria Alice Fernandes. Health information systems at the local level. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 1996, vol.12, n.2, pp. 267-270. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X1996000200016.

Information systems have assumed paramount importance in modern society, becoming an strategic resource of power in all areas. Therefore, it is important that the process of decentralization of the health sector should not be limited to services, but should also consider the decentralization of information. The author discusses the sharing of political and technical responsibility between various governmental spheres, and the need to rethink and redirect the process of making accessible information on health. This is a matter of overcoming vertical relations between government and society and of moving toward cooperative management capable of minimizing regional inequalities and optimizing the utilization of resources.

Palavras-chave : Health information System; Decentralization; Municipalization; Public Health.