Social and health inequality in Brazil: telemedicine as a mitigation instrument in João Pessoa-PB

Abstract

This paper presents a case study exploring the use of telemedicine as a mitigation instrument in health inequality at João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. The adoption of telemedicine has been constantly broadening and includes the interconnection of databases and several equipments of the Healthcare Cluster. Telemedicine has diffused within wealthy areas supported by sophisticated health services. João Pessoa’s study case involved the application of distance learning resources offered by the Sírio-Libanês Hospital Teaching and Research Division aimed at health regulatory agents training. This study focus on the guidance for health decentralization developed according to the Regional Intermanagement Commissions (CIR), as well as the filling of semi structured research questionnaires in order to evidence the socio-economics characteristics and the offer and the complexity of the health services available in João Pessoa. The results from this case study turn out to be positive and demonstrate that telemedicine resources are useful in less-favored areas in terms of healthcare, as João Pessoa. Such resources are valuable not only as a connection between health agents and equipment located at more developed urban centers around the country. Finally, we also propose some public policy guidelines on the telemedicine field.