Effect of intergovernmental transfers on the quality of public health in mato-grossense municipalities

Abstract

This research has the general objective of verifying the extent to which intergovernmental transfers contribute to the quality of public health at the local level in Brazil. In particular, it is intended to measure quantitatively the impact of the Municipal Participation Fund (FPM) and the resources for the Unified Health System (SUS) on the quality of health in the municipalities of the State of Mato Grosso. Using a series of data related to health indicators, for a period of seven years (2010-2016), a modified health index (MHI) was built, which was measured based on ten health indicators used by the Mato Grosso State Audit Court Grosso (TCEMT) in order to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the health sector in the municipalities of the state. The results are convergent with the literature, as they show that intergovernmental transfers, especially those from the FPM and resources to the SUS, contribute to the quality of public health in the municipalities of Mato Grosso. In general, the marginal effects of the two sources of resources are slightly close, although the resources destined exclusively for SUS have a statistically more significant effect, showing that, in the specific case of the municipalities of Mato Grosso, the intergovernmental resources destined for SUS, they are essential for these governments to maintain a reasonable level of quality of services provided in the health area.