Abstract

SOUSA, Islândia Maria Carvalho de et al. Integrative and complementary health practices: the supply and production of care in the Unified National Health System and in selected municipalities in Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.11, pp. 2143-2154. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2012001100014.

The world of Traditional/Complementary and Alternative Medicine has grown and its importance has been emphasized in several studies. In Brazil, the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices encourages their inclusion and empowerment in primary care. This study attempted to identify the provision of services and integrative practices in the Unified National Health System and the production of consultations from 2000 to 2011, contrasting the analysis of available information in national databases with the primary care data collected locally in Campinas (São Paulo State), Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State), and Recife (Pernambuco State). Analysis of the data revealed a mismatch between records in information systems and actual practices in these cities. This mismatch is due largely to lack of definition on the scope of what are understood as integrative and complementary practices in the Brazilian National Policy, thereby posing a major limitation to their measurement and evaluation, since current information does not allow adequate recording of such practices.

Keywords : Traditional Medicine; Complementary Therapies; Health Services; Information Systems; Primary Health Care.