SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF MUNICIPAL HEALTH COUNCILS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SUS

Abstract

This article analyzes social participation in the Unified Health System (SUS), focusing on the role of Municipal Health Councils as key bodies for deliberation and social oversight. The qualitative research, with a bibliographic approach, is based on the analysis of academic publications, official documents, and specific legislation addressing the organization of public health in Brazil and the democratic mechanisms of participatory management. Throughout the text, the historical process of consolidation of the SUS, the principles that structure it, and the role that health councils play in ensuring decentralized, universal, and equitable management are discussed. The reflection highlights the importance of the councils as legitimate spaces for coordination between government and civil society, highlighting both their contributions to strengthening public health policies and the obstacles that still limit their effectiveness. Among the main challenges identified are low social representation, the fragility of the technical training of council members, the lack of effective deliberation mechanisms, and the difficulty in coordination between different levels of management. The article also addresses the implications of using information technology in the process of democratic participation, highlighting possibilities and limitations in the current context. The conclusion is that Municipal Health Councils play a strategic role in strengthening participatory democracy, provided they are structured to ensure broad representation, transparency, and technical capacity. Improving these bodies depends on continuous investment in training, public engagement, and the ethical commitment of those involved. Consolidating a fair and inclusive health system necessarily involves valuing social control instruments and building a political culture focused on collective interest.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.031-002