Floating Primary Health Center: a new approach to Primary Care in the Amazon, Brazil

Floating Primary Health Center is a new approach to ensuring universal access to primary healthcare for riverine communities in the Amazon and Pantanal. The aim of this study was to describe the planning and implementation of the activities of a floating primary health center and management of care under this new approach. An exploratory descriptive study was conducted using mapping techniques, participant observation, and interviewing in two trips to the Municipality of Borba in the State of Amazonas. The findings show the importance of tailoring policies and programs to the specific characteristics of neighborhoods and communities and that the river is the pathway that health services should use to promote equitable access to care for riverine communities in the Amazon.

浮动式基层医疗中心（Floating Primary Health Center）是保障亚马逊与潘塔纳尔地区河滨社区全面获取基层医疗服务的创新模式。本研究旨在阐述该新型模式下浮动式基层医疗中心的活动规划与实施流程，以及照护管理方案。研究采用制图调研技术、参与式观察法与访谈法，通过两次赴亚马孙州博尔巴市的实地调研开展探索性描述性研究。研究结果表明，需针对社区与街区的具体特征量身定制政策与项目；同时，河流是医疗服务应当依托的核心通行载体，借此可推动亚马逊河滨社区公平获得医疗照护服务。