Limits of the National Program for Access and Quality Improvement in Primary Care (PMAQ-AB): on focus, work management and health education

ABSTRACT The article analyzes the limits of the sub-dimensions proposed by the National Program for Access and Quality Improvement in Primary Care (PMAQ-AB) for the external evaluation of the Primary Care teams, based on the guidelines and principles of the field of Work Management and Health Education (GTES). A descriptive study, with a qualitative approach and documentary analysis on the PMAQ-AB was carried out, and the external evaluation instrument and publications of the Ministry of Health related to the policy of the GTES were selected, from 2011 to 2014. It was observed that the evaluation instrument of the PMAQ-AB converges with the GTES policy in the aspects of work precarization and worker valorization, however, the instrument does not exploit work negotiation and worker health. Its conception of Permanent Health Education (EPS) is limited, although it presents potentialities when it investigates the relation of the EPS actions offered and the needs of the teams and when portraying the teaching-service integration as a quality standard. It is stated that there is a need to improve the PMAQ-AB instruments in order to strengthen the guidelines and principles of the policies of the GTES for Unified Health System (SUS), however, it is assumed that the Program has the potential of generating information for the health system.