Regional health network in the Amazonian context: the case in Manaus, Entorno and Alto Rio Negro

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the dimensions of policy, structure and organization in the construction of Redes de Atenção à Saúde (RAS) (healthcare networks) in the health region of Manaus, Entorno and Alto Rio Negro, focusing on Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) (primary healthcare) and Rede de Urgência e Emergência (RUE) (urgency and emergency network). Methods: a case study with multidimensional analysis using quantitative and qualitative approach carried out in the first semester of 2016. Results: 37 interviewed key informants, such as managers (States, Cities and Regionals), providers and civil society. The reality was marked by the difficulties in the implementation of RAS's with centralized decision-making powers of State level. Perception of insufficient human resources of limited installed capacity, particularly in the APS, with insufficient priority given to this level of care. Concentration of services in Manaus, priority for urgency and emergency actions expressed in the greatest investment in human resources and mate-rials allocated at this level of care, lack of proposals for promoting equity. Conclusions: the Region was unable to implement RAS to respond to the health demands in the region. The necessity to overcome the dependency relation with the cities and the State and to strengthen its protagonism and fulfillits roles in management network, instituting a plan capable of strengthening APS to be committed in reducing iniquities and with adequate responses in health needs.