What can be elicited from the discourse analysis of Municipal Health Conferences attendees regarding these meetings, its decision-making processes and results? This is a multiple case study of events that took place in six towns in the State of Ceará (Northeast of Brazil) in 2007, based on documental review, interviews and focus groups, with a hermeneutics and dialectic analysis. Throughout these meetings, there are evidences of the voice and the advocacy of groups with specific requests, under a landscape of competitive dialogue and the search of political mediations pursuing symbolical effectiveness. From the decision-making process point of view, the more relevant elements are the statements concerning the negligence of municipal governments on incorporating these resolutions on their political agenda and its corresponding institutional implantation strategies, as well as the absence of supervision by the Municipal Health Councils.
Health Conferences; Health Councils; Brazilian National Health System; Citizen participation
