Abstract
Regionalization is one of the great challenges faced since the municipalization of health in Brazil and, once consolidated, it enables the structuring of a regional scale that enhances territories. Among the organizational arrangements for regionalization, the Public Health Consortium (PHC) is positioned, which must deal not only with the sum of individualities, but with collective action. This study aims to analyze the perception of health managers at the municipal level in the Middle Paranapanema Health Region of Northern Paraná, Brazil, regarding the role of the PHC in the regionalization process. The research had a qualitative, exploratory approach, which used interviews and focus groups for data collection, which were submitted to the method of discourse analysis. The results present both the conditions that limit collective action and the conditions that favor it. With this, some limitations in the consortium's performance are unveiled, highlighting the confusion about its role and the conflicts of interest that arise from this performance, in addition to its collaborative and supportive character, which positions it as a space to exercise cooperation. With that, the joint action initiatives demonstrate the empowerment of managers, resulting in the strengthening of regionalization.
Keywords:
Regional Health Planning; Public Health Consorcium; Health Management.