Institutional Reconfigurations in Health Technical Education: Impacts on SUS Technical Schools in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

Health technical education is a strategic component for the consolidation of the Brazilian Unified Health System, particularly regarding the qualification of mid-level health workers. In this context, the Technical Schools of SUS and training centers play a fundamental role in professional education and in the organization of healthcare work. This study aims to analyze public policies on technical health education, focusing on institutional reconfigurations of these schools, based on a case study in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. This is a qualitative study based on a narrative literature review and document analysis, including public policies, institutional regulations, and academic publications related to the topic. The results show that transformations in health education policies, especially following the National Policy of Permanent Health Education, have promoted significant changes in the organization and functioning of training institutions. In Rio Grande do Norte, a key example is the transition from the Center for Training Health Personnel to the State School of Public Health, reflecting the expansion of educational activities and the incorporation of postgraduate programs. It is concluded that these reconfigurations contribute to workforce qualification and to the improvement of healthcare delivery, although significant challenges remain, particularly related to funding, regional inequalities, and the consolidation of public policies, representing structural limitations in the implementation of SUS public policies.