[Support for and resistance to homeopathy among managers of the Unified National Health System].
This article presents partial findings from a study on trends towards greater or lesser proximity between homeopathic and allopathic physicians, from the perspective of the latter. Forty-eight health professionals were interviewed (faculty, managers, and physicians working in the public health system). This specific article focused only on the interviews with health system managers. The following concepts were used as references: social and scientific field (Bourdieu); medical rationalities (Madel Luz); technological arrangements in health work (Mendes-Gonçalves); and physician's professional identity (Donnangelo & Schraiber). According to the findings, support by managers for the presence of Homeopathy in the Unified National Health System is related to their perception of social demand, defense of patients' right to choose, and the observation that it is a medical practice that reclaims the humanist dimension of medicine, thus contributing to user satisfaction. The difficulties and resistances identified by managers highlight that the lack of information on homeopathic procedures limits the possibilities for use of Homeopathy because it leads to insecurity towards this area of medicine.
Salles
Sandra Abrahão Chaim
SA
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. sandrachaim@terra.com.br
Schraiber
Lilia Blima
LB
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006705:Homeopathy; D006808:Humanism; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009313:National Health Programs; D028701:Patient Rights; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support