A representação dos usuários no Conselho Municipal de Saúde de Campinas

Abstract

This paper discussed the participation of the Civil Society from the view of users’ representation in health managing councils. For this goal, a case study was done at the Municipal Health Council of Campinas (CMS/CPS) to try to identify the changes in the specific legislation that defines who can represent the users in these councils. Interviews were also performed to evaluate the perception of the users’ representatives concerning the CMS/CPS and how they view their own representation. The collective (civil organizations and institutions, social movements, etc) representation’s legitimacy was discussed and it was concluded that this legitimacy should not be judged based on the same criteria of a traditional representation. The research showed that the users’ representatives usually don’t talk with their bases neither beforehand nor after the decisions are made. They are also under great influence from political parties, avoid articulating and face several obstacles to participation such as the difficulty to reach the meetings’ venues, lack of technical skills to follow debates and the excessive workload imposed on some council members.