The rights for the development and health are closely related since there is no development process without consolidation of health. Furthermore, one can observe the influence of the level of development of health, by disease incidence tends to be higher in less developed regions. This qualitative study focused on questions about the connections between the exercise of the right to health and development in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, focusing on social control, under the Municipal Health Council presents, so as a general objective describing the interrelationships between social control played by the Municipal Council of Health of the development site. Data were obtained through triangulation of data sources, through documentary analysis of the minutes of Board meetings, meetings of passive observation and semi-structured interviews with counselors. The interviews were analyzed through content analysis and thematic. Respondents revealed that despite the recognition of population health as a right, there is low public participation in the Council. Among the determinants of low participation are lack of knowledge and information dissemination and low shares of the Council. Still, we observed improvements in health through the work of the Council and members recognized the importance of this activity for the development of the municipality and increased quality of life. Study participants admitted, however, that the exercise of social control requires many advancements to come close to the considered ideal, which depends on the performance of the councilors themselves, to improve its representativeness. It was found that, although the Board of Health of Ribeirão Preto is recognized by the board as a space that works for democratization, institutionalization of participatory spaces not guarantee popular participation and social control in health. Accordingly, this work presents alternatives for the construction of this process, as the greatest dissemination of information, the development of a communication channel with the population, changes in the bylaws and the permanent training of counselors, as essential to the pursuit of other paths for the effective exercise of social control and guarantee the right to health and development site in the city of Ribeirão Preto. (AU) |
