THE MUNICIPAL CHALLENGE OF THE INSERTION OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE IN PUBLIC HEALTH: A LOOK AT THE STRATEGIZING AND ORGANIZING PRACTICES

ABSTRACT

The Unified Health System (SUS) started to offer Integrative Medicine (IM) practices since the regulation of National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices, in 2006. Thisstudy analyses the modes of association between strategizing and organizing with the insertion of IM in the public health system, from the perspective of studies about strategy as practice. The research was performed in three service units, using documentary research, observation/field notes and interviews. The results show unbalanced and interdependent relations between strategizing and organizing practices in a context of relational tension between traditional practices and integrative practices in public health. The research contributes with studies about changes in organizational practices by showing practitioners making use of resources according to the rules, but also by creating alternatives, transforming rules, and developing new resources.

Keywords:
Strategy as practice; Organizing; Strategizing; Pluralistic organizations; Organizational changes