TCU and the Embassy of Denmark Discuss Public Health Strategies
By Secom / Serint
Representatives of the Embassy of Denmark visited the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) to participate in a meeting with the Audit Department for Health (AudSaúde/SecexDesenvolvimento). Held on April 6, the meeting aimed to examine the model used by the Danish government to deliver public healthcare services.
During the meeting, the Danish delegation presented the healthcare system reorganization model adopted in their country. Denmark's strategy involves reducing the number of hospitals while concentrating services in large healthcare centers that provide highly specialized and emergency care.
This approach has the potential to improve administrative efficiency and enhance patient safety. According to the data presented, the regular performance of specific medical procedures in larger facilities contributes to the technical advancement of healthcare teams, while also generating operational gains.
At the same time, while high-complexity services are being centralized in major hospitals, Denmark has decentralized lower-complexity care. The country has invested in strengthening municipal-level pre-hospital services and expanding the role of general practitioners, who are responsible for delivering primary healthcare to the population, while in Brazil it is performed by physicians working in Family Health teams.
The positive impacts of this model were highlighted during the meeting, including significant reductions in both overall hospitalization time and the average length of hospital stays in Danish facilities.
Despite considerable geographic and economic differences, Brazil and Denmark share similarities in the overall structure of their public healthcare systems. In Brazil, the Unified Health System (SUS) faces challenges related to the performance of small hospitals. These facilities, often characterized by limited bed capacity and low efficiency, remain in many areas the only available option for care.
The exchange of information and the analysis of the Danish model are therefore of strategic importance to AudSaúde, which is currently conducting a performance audit of small hospital units.
In addition to discussing the Danish model, the participants identified other topics of mutual interest. Further meetings are planned to address issues related to healthcare service management strategies.
Participants included the Head of AudSaúde Alexandre Giraux Cavalcanti, Deputy Head Vinícius Augusto Guimarães, and João Pedro da Rocha Bessa, representing the Department of International Relations (Serint). AudSaúde Director Bruno Lima Caldeira de Andrada joined the meeting remotely.