Brazil expands primary care
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Brazil has extended its family healthcare programme (PSF) to a further 219 municipalities in 22 states. Some 1,300 primary healthcare teams have joined the 14,200 already in place across 3,800 municipalities. Their main tasks include monitoring and tackling high blood pressure, diabetes, tuberculosis and hanseniasis, and improving pre- and post-natal care, with the aim of relieving the hospital sector. By the end of 2002, the government plans to set up some 20,000 PSF units, each providing basic healthcare cover to some 3,450 people.