[Considerations on the Brazilian national health system (SUS) performance index]

The Brazilian National Health System (SUS), a universal model currently established in Brazil, has a leading position among social policies. In a context of increased resources and growth of demand, the SUS constantly undergoes changes designed to improve the quality, access and effectiveness of the service provided. One of the major assessments conducted within the SUS consists of performance appraisals and health economic evaluations. One of the new tools used by the SUS is the IDSUS (Brazilian National Health System Performance Index) designed to measure the performance of each municipality and region in relation to access to and effectiveness of the health care system. This index is composed of twenty-four indicators, fourteen that measure access to health care and ten that measure the effectiveness of the system. Briefly, indicators such as the IDSUS can help to improve levels of health in Brazil.

The primary objective of this study was to identify the currently National Health System assessment models and verify the potential of evaluation models, especially IDSUS, for enhancement and improvement of public health management in Brazil.

This study was based on a review of the literature for structuring and development of the theoretical approach.

Application of the various available health care system evaluation models remains fragmented and does not result in an action plan for public health administrators.