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Municipal Health Council of Niterói: Popular Sovereignty in SUS: The Maturity of Local Councils as Pillars of Participatory Democracy in Niterói

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The practice we call "Popular Sovereignty in SUS: The Maturity of Local Councils as Pillars of Participatory Democracy in Niterói" addresses the institutionalization and strengthening of Local Health Councils in Niterói, which promote decentralization of social control beyond the Municipal Health Council, already established by law, shifting the proposal/decision-making focus of public management to the territories where life takes place. In a context of 52 neighborhoods with marked socio-spatial differences, the initiative established a co-management network between the Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS), the Municipal Health Council (CMS), the Secretariat for Social Participation (SEMPAS), and society. The process began in 2021, amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the creation of councils in strategic units like the Gilson Cantarino Oceânico Hospital and, innovatively, in the "Consultório na Rua" (Street Clinic). The latter allowed historically marginalized populations (homeless citizens) to start formulating guidelines for public policies, integrating their needs into the Municipal Participatory Health Plan (PMSP 22-25), a legal document that defines guidelines, objectives, and goals for municipal health planning over four years.

Currently, the practice involves 17 active councils, ranging from Regional Polyclinics to Family Health Units. The methodology is based on qualified listening and ongoing civic education, where workers, managers, and users deliberate monthly on goals, budgets, quality of service, and transversal policies. Sustainability is ensured by a strong normative framework (CMS/SMS Resolutions) and partnerships with esteemed institutions, such as the National Health Council (CNS) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), which provide technical and scientific support to the process.

The impact is visible in the renewal of citizen trust: management transitions from an isolated bureaucratic structure to a collective construction. With the planned expansion for 2026 in high-complexity units and municipal maternity care, Niterói consolidates governance that not only delivers health services but promotes social peace through distributive justice and respect for human rights. This practice demonstrates that the Unified Health System (SUS) is, at its core, the most powerful tool for direct democracy and social inclusion in Brazil.

Learn more: https://saude.niteroi.rj.gov.br/conselho-municipal-de-saude/ 


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Municipal Health Council of Niterói: Popular Sovereignty in SUS: The Maturity of Local Councils as Pillars of Participatory Democracy in Niterói

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