Pathfinder EEAPS: Strategic Studies on Primary Health Care (EEAPS) to support the qualification of PHC in Brazil
The host study
The Strategic Studies on Primary Health Care (EEAPS) project represents an initiative articulated between the Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health (ENSP/Fiocruz) and the Primary Health Care Secretariat of the Ministry of Health (SAPS/MS), launched in the second half of 2024. Conceived as a portfolio of applied studies, the project provides technical and scientific support to four national research initiatives dedicated to strengthening primary health care (PHC) policies throughout Brazil. The EEAPS is conceived as an instrument for PHC transformation, subsidising the formulation and reorientation of public policies through evidence generated by quality research, in ongoing dialogue with managers, health professionals and service users.
Structure and Governance
Collaborative coordination of the EEAPS is exercised by the Vice-Directorship of Research and Innovation (VDPI) and the Vice-Directorship of School of Government in Health (VDEGS) of ENSP/Fiocruz, reflecting a collegiate approach in project management.
Thematic axes
The project is organised around four strategic axes:
- Access to PHC - Investigation of barriers and facilitators to access to health services.
- Institutional Support in PHC Management - Analysis of the institutional support function in qualifying primary health care
- Coordinación del Cuidado desde la APS - Evaluación de la articulación entre la atención primaria y la atención especializada.
- Monitoreo y Evaluación en APS - Análisis de la implementación de prácticas de M&E en los servicios de atención primaria de salud.
Methodology and Scope
Prior to the conception of each study, a participatory diagnosis was conducted involving SAPS/MS to map expectations, identify gaps and characterise the main challenges in each of the axes. This initial consultation ensured alignment between research and the practical demands of the health system.
The project stands out for its national coverage, involving all five geographical regions of Brazil, and for its commitment to translating findings into viable recommendations for guiding policies, programmes and concrete actions to improve PHC. Implementation occurs through collaborative networking dynamics, connecting multiple actors within the health system. Activities are also articulated with educational initiatives related to the themes and methodologies of the studies, as well as with the Health System Observatory (Observatório do SUS) of ENSP/Fiocruz, broadening the scope of analyses on the Brazilian health system.
EEAPS mind map.Home | The host study | Pathfinder | Objectives | Events | Resources
Pathfinder
Este projeto foi apoiado pelo Wellcome Trust (Grant 226688/Z/22/Z).
The development of EEAPS demonstrates the potential of coordinated research oriented towards the improvement of health processes, the complexity involved in the articulation between different studies and methodologies, from the organisation of work flows to the implementation of solutions based on real primary healthcare contexts in Brazil. Thus, the use of the Pathfinder mapping methodology by EEAPS emerges as an initiative aimed at documenting the trajectory of study implementation, including challenges, barriers and solutions adopted throughout the process.
By systematising this experience, Pathfinder seeks to contribute to the organisation and sustainability of research processes and support future applications of this integrated approach in other health realities and contexts.
Home | The host study | Pathfinder | Objectives | Events | Resources
Events
Home | The host study | Pathfinder | Objectives | Events | Resources