A ASSISTÊNCIA ONCOLÓGICA NO SISTEMA ÚNICO DE SAÚDE: O CASO DO CÂNCER DE MAMA NO NORTE DE MINAS GERAIS

Abstract

The present study aims to discuss the regionalization and organization of health services to assist the user with breast cancer in the North of Minas Gerais. The methodological procedures used consisted of bibliographic and documentary research, in situ observation, besides the use of data made available by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the National Cancer Institute. The results obtained evidenced the efforts made by the public system in partnership with the private sector to improve oncological care in the region. However, the available resources, technological as well as human or structural, are still few and inefficient to meet the demand, generating huge queues in the days of attendance and delay in the appointment of consultations and exams. It is also noted that in the North of Minas Gerais, cancer care is concentrated in a single city within the Expanded Health Region, and it is necessary to decentralize these services to better meet the demand for treatment of the disease. It is emphasized that those who fight against cancer also fight against time, the main opponent for a possible cure of the disease.