Abstract

SANTOS, Melissa Costa  and  TESSER, Charles Dalcanale. A method for the implementation and promotion of access to comprehensive and complementary primary healthcare practices. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.11, pp. 3011-3024. ISSN 1413-8123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232012001100018.

The rendering of integrated and complementary practices in the Brazilian Unified Health System is fostered to increase the comprehensiveness of care and access to same, though it is a challenge to incorporate them into the services. Our objective is to provide a simple method of implementation of such practices in Primary Healthcare, derived from analysis of experiences in municipalities, using partial results of a master's thesis that employed research-action methodology. The method involves four stages: 1 - defininition of a nucleus responsible for implementation and consolidation thereof; 2 - situational analysis, with definition of the existing competent professionals; 3 - regulation, organization of access and legitimation; and 4 - implementation cycle: local plans, mentoring and ongoing education in health. The phases are described, justified and briefly discussed. The method encourages the development of rational and sustainable actions, sponsors participatory management, the creation of comprehensivenessand the broadening of care provided in Primary Healthcare by offering progressive and sustainable comprehensive and complementary practices.

Keywords : Health management; Complementary therapies; Comprehensive medicine; Health policy.