Implementación, resultados iniciales y sostenibilidad de la reforma de servicios de salud mental en el Perú, 2013-2018 / Implementation, initial results, and sustainability of the mental health services reform in Peru, 2013-2018

RESUMEN Se analiza la implementación, resultados iniciales y sostenibilidad de innovaciones en la prestación, financiamiento y gestión de servicios de salud mental en el Perú, realizadas en el periodo 2013-2018. Aplicando nuevos mecanismos de financiamiento y estrategias de gestión pública se implementaron 104 Centros de Salud Mental Comunitarios y ocho Hogares Protegidos que muestran ser más eficientes que los hospitales psiquiátricos. El conjunto de los 29 centros creados entre 2015 y 2017, produjeron en el 2018 un número equivalente en atenciones (244 mil vs. 246 mil) y atendidos (46 mil vs. 48 mil) que el conjunto de los tres hospitales psiquiátricos, pero con el 11% de financiamiento y el 43% de psiquiatras. Se está cambiando la forma de atender la salud mental en el Perú involucrando a ciudadanos y comunidades en el cuidado continuo y creando mejores condiciones para el ejercicio de los derechos en salud mental. La reforma en salud mental comunitaria ha ganado amplio respaldo de sectores políticos, internacionales, académicos y medios de comunicación. Se concluye que la reforma de los servicios de salud mental de base comunitaria en el Perú es viable y sostenible. Está en condiciones para escalar a todo el sector salud en todo el territorio nacional, sujeto al compromiso de las autoridades, el incremento progresivo de financiamiento público y las estrategias colaborativas nacionales e internacionales.

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the implementation, initial results, and sustainability of innovations in the provision, financing, and management of mental health services in Peru, carried out during 2013-2018. By applying new financing mechanisms and public management strategies, 104 Community Mental Health Centers and eight Protected Homes were implemented, which prove to be more efficient than psychiatric hospitals. The set of 29 centers created between 2015 and 2017 produced in 2018 an equivalent number in consultations (244,000 vs. 246,000) and patients attended (46,000 vs. 48,000) than the set of three psychiatric hospitals, but with 11% of financing and 43% of psychiatrists. The way mental health care is being provided is changing in Peru by involving citizens and communities in ongoing care and creating better conditions for the exercise of mental health rights. Community mental health reform has gained broad support from political, international, and academic sectors, and from the media. We conclude that the reform of community-based mental health services in Peru is viable and sustainable. It is in a position to scale up the entire health sector throughout the country, subject to the commitment of the authorities, the progressive increase in public financing, and national and international collaborative strategies.

Cost of a community mental health service: a retrospective study on a psychosocial care center for alcohol and drug users in São Paulo

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Psychosocial care centers for alcohol and drug users (CAPS-ad) are reference services for treatment of drug users within the Brazilian National Health System. Knowledge of their total costs within the evidence-based decision-making process for public-resource allocation is essential. The aims here were to estimate the total costs of a CAPS-ad and the costs of packages of care (according to intensity of care); to ascertain the ratio between total CAPS-ad costs and the federal funding allocated; and to describe the methods for estimating unit costs for each CAPS-ad cost component. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study conducted in a public community mental health service. METHODS: This was a retrospective cost description study on a CAPS-ad located in a city in the state of São Paulo, using a public healthcare provider perspective and a top-down approach, conducted over a 180-day period from March 1 to August 30, 2015. RESULTS: The total mean monthly costs of the CAPS-ad were BRL 64,017.54. Healthcare staff accounted for 56.5% of total costs. The mean costs per capita and per month for intensive and non-intensive care packages were, respectively, BRL 668.34 and BRL 37.12. CONCLUSIONS: The federal budget allocation covered 62.1% of the CAPS-ad costs and the remaining 37.9% end up funded by the municipal government. The cost of the intensive package of care was 18 times greater than the non-intensive package. Developing criteria for using services and different packages of care based on patients' needs, and optimizing human resources according to specific actions, may improve people's mental health and avoid wasted resources.

Lessons from scaling up a depression treatment program in primary care in Chile / Enseñanzas derivadas de la ampliación de un programa para el tratamiento de la depresión en atención primaria en Chile

In Chile, the National Depression Detection and Treatment Program (Programa Nacional deDiagnóstico y Tratamiento de la Depresión, PNDTD) in primary care is a rare example ofan evidence-based mental health program that was scaled up to the national level in a low- ormiddle-income country. This retrospective qualitative study aimed to better understand howpolicymakers made the decision to scale up mental health services to the national level, andto explore the elements, contexts, and processes that facilitated the decision to implementand sustain PNDTD. In-depth semistructured interviews with six key informants selectedthrough intentional sampling were conducted in August–December 2008. Interviewees weresenior officers at the Ministry of Health who were directly involved in the decision to scale upthe program.Results yielded four elements pivotal to the decisionmaking process: scientific evidence,teamwork and leadership, strategic alliances, and program institutionalization. Each elementcontributed to building consensus, securing funding, attracting resources, and gaining lastingsupport from policymakers. Additionally, a review of available documentation led the authorsto consider sociopolitical context and use of the media to be important factors.While research evidence for the effectiveness of mental health services in the primary caresetting continues to accumulate, low- and middle-income countries should get started on thelengthy process of scaling up by incorporating the elements that led to decisionmaking andimplementation of the PNDTD in Chile.

En Chile, el Programa Nacional de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento de la Depresión(PNDTD) en atención primaria constituye un raro ejemplo de programa de saludmental basado en la evidencia ampliado al nivel nacional en un país de ingresos medioso bajos. Con este estudio retrospectivo cualitativo se buscó conocer más a fondola forma en que los responsables de las políticas tomaron la decisión de ampliar losservicios de salud mental al nivel nacional e investigar los elementos, contextos y procesosque facilitaron la decisión de implementar y mantener el PNDTD. Entre agostoy diciembre de 2008, seis informantes clave seleccionados mediante muestreo intencionalllevaron a cabo entrevistas en profundidad semiestructuradas. Los entrevistadoseran funcionarios de alto nivel del Ministerio de Salud directamente involucradosen la decisión de ampliar el programa.Los resultados arrojaron cuatro elementos fundamentales para el proceso de tomade decisiones: las pruebas científicas, el trabajo en equipo y el liderazgo, las alianzasestratégicas y la institucionalización del programa. Los cuatro elementos contribuyerona la creación de consensos, la obtención de financiamiento, la captación derecursos y la obtención de un apoyo duradero por parte de los responsables de laspolíticas. Además, la revisión de la documentación disponible llevó a los autores aconsiderar al contexto sociopolítico y el uso de los medios factores importantes.Mientras se siguen acumulando datos de investigación sobre la eficacia de losservicios de salud mental en la atención primaria, los países con ingresos medios ybajos deben comenzar el largo proceso de ampliación incorporando los elementos quecondujeron a la toma de decisiones y la implementación del PNDTD en Chile.

Política de Saúde Mental no Brasil: evolução do gasto federal entre 2001 e 2009 / Mental Health Policy in Brazil: federal expenditure evolution between 2001 and 2009 / Política de Salud Mental en Brasil: evolución del gasto federal entre 2001 y 2009

OBJETIVO: Analisar a evolução de estimativas do gasto federal com o Programa de Saúde Mental desde a promulgação da lei nacional de saúde mental. MÉTODOS: O gasto federal total do Programa de Saúde Mental e seus componentes de gastos hospitalares e extra-hospitalares foi estimado a partir de 21 categorias de gastos de 2001 a 2009. Os valores dos gastos foram atualizados para valores em reais de 2009 por meio da aplicação do Índice de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo. Foi calculado o valor per capita/ano do gasto federal em saúde mental. RESULTADOS: Observou-se o crescimento real de 51,3 por cento do gasto em saúde mental no período. A desagregação do gasto revelou aumento expressivo do valor extra-hospitalar (404,2 por cento) e decréscimo do hospitalar (-39,5 por cento). O gasto per capita teve crescimento real menor, embora expressivo (36,2 por cento). A série histórica do gasto per capita desagregado mostrou que em 2006, pela primeira vez, o gasto extra-hospitalar foi maior que o hospitalar. O valor per capita extra-hospitalar teve o crescimento real de 354,0 por cento; o valor per capita hospitalar decresceu 45,5 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: Houve crescimento real dos recursos federais investidos em saúde mental entre 2001 e 2009 e investimento expressivo nas ações extra-hospitalares. Houve inversão no direcionamento dos recursos, a partir de 2006, na direção dos serviços comunitários. O componente do financiamento teve papel crucial como indutor da mudança de modelo de atenção em saúde mental. O desafio para os próximos anos é sustentar e aumentar os recursos para a saúde mental num contexto de desfinanciamento do Sistema Único de Saúde.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution of estimates of federal spending in Brazil's Mental Health Program since the promulgation of the national mental health law. METHODS: The total federal outlay of the Mental Health Program and its components of hospital and extra-hospital expenses were estimated based on 21 expenses categories from 2001 to 2009. The expenses amount was updated to values in reais of 2009 by means of the use of the Índice de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo (Broad Consumer Price Index). The per capita/year value of the federal expenditure on mental health was calculated. RESULTS: The outlay on mental health rose 51.3 percent in the period. The breakdown of the expenditures revealed a significant increase in the extra-hospital value (404.2 percent) and a decrease in the hospital one (-39.5 percent). The per capita expenditures had a lower, but still significant, growth (36.2 percent). The historical series of the disaggregated per capita expenditures showed that in 2006, for the first time, the extra-hospital expenditure was higher than the hospital one. The extra-hospital per capita value increased by 354.0 percent; the per capita hospital value decreased by 45.5 percent. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase in federal outlay on mental health between 2001 and 2009 and an expressive investment in extra-hospital actions. From 2006 onwards, resources allocation was shifted towards community services. The funding component played a crucial role as the inducer of the change of the mental health care model. The challenge for the coming years is maintaining and increasing the resources for mental health in a context of underfunding of the National Health System.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la evolución de estimaciones de gasto federal con el Programa de Salud Mental desde la promulgación de la ley nacional de salud mental. MÉTODOS: El gasto federal total del Programa de Salud Mental en Brasil y sus componentes de gastos hospitalarios y extra-hospitalarios fue estimado a partir de 21 categorías de gastos de 2001 a 2009. Los valores de los gastos fueron actualizados en valores en reales de 2009 por medio de la aplicación del Índice de Precios al Consumidor Amplio. Se calculó el valor per capita/año del gasto federal en salud mental. RESULTADOS: Se observó el crecimiento real de 51,3 por ciento del gasto en salud mental en el período. La separación del gasto reveló aumento expresivo del valor extra-hospitalario (404,2 por ciento) y disminución del hospitalario (-39,5 por ciento). El gasto per capita tuvo un crecimiento real menor, aunque expresivo (36,2 por ciento). La serie histórica del gasto per capita separado mostró que en 2006, por primera vez, el gasto extra-hospitalario fue mayor que el hospitalario. El valor per capita extra-hospitalario tuvo un crecimiento real de 354,0 por ciento; el valor per capita hospitalario disminuyó 45,5 por ciento. CONCLUSIONES: hubo crecimiento real de los recursos federales invertidos en salud mental entre 2001 y 2009 e inversión expresiva en las acciones extra-hospitalarias. hubo inversión en el direccionamiento de los recursos, a partir de 2006, en los servicios comunitarios. el componente del financiamiento tuvo papel crucial como inductor del cambio de modelo de atención en salud mental. el desafío para los próximos años es sustentar y aumentar los recursos para la salud mental en el contexto del desfinanciamiento del sistema único de salud.

Is psychiatric reform a strategy for reducing the mental health budget? The case of Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate trends in the provision of mental health services and financing in Brazil. METHOD: Data from DATASUS (the Brazilian Unified Health Computerized System) with free access in the web were collected regarding the number of beds, the development of new community centers, the number of mental health professionals, and costs involved from 1995 to 2005. RESULTS: In ten years, the number of psychiatric beds decreased 41 percent (5.4 to 3.2 per 10,000 inhabitants) while community services have increased nine-fold (0.004 to 0.037 per 10,000 inhabitants). Psychologists and social workers have accounted for three and two-fold, respectively, as much hirings as psychiatrists. Psychiatric admissions accounted for 95.5 percent of the budget in 1995 and 49 percent in 2005, and the expenses with community services and medication have increased 15 percent each. As a whole, the expenses in mental health decreased by 26.7 percent (2.66 to 1.95 US$ per capita). CONCLUSION: There has been a clear switch from hospital to community psychiatric care in Brazil, where the system can now provide a diversity of treatments and free access to psychotropics. However, the coverage of community services is precarious, and the reform was not accompanied by an increased public investment in mental health. The psychiatric reform is not a strategy for reducing costs; it necessarily implies increasing investments if countries decide to have a better care of those more disadvantaged.

OBJETIVO: Investigar o desenvolvimento da infra-estrutura de serviço de saúde mental e do seu financiamento no Brasil. MÉTODO: Os dados sobre número de leitos, centros comunitários de saúde mental, profissionais de saúde mental e custos, no período de 1995 a 2005, foram coletados no sítio de internet de livre acesso do DATASUS. RESULTADOS: Em 10 anos, houve uma redução de 41 por cento no número de leitos psiquiátricos (5,4 a 3,2 por 10.000 habitantes), enquanto os serviços comunitários aumentaram nove vezes (0,004 to 0,037 por 10.000). Psicólogos e assistentes sociais foram contratados três e duas vezes mais do que psiquiatras, respectivamente. As internações psiquiátricas representavam 95,5 por cento do total de gastos com saúde mental em 1995, passando para 49 por cento em 2005. Por outro lado, as despesas com serviços comunitários e medicação aumentaram 15 por cento cada. Em relação ao total de gastos, as despesas com saúde mental diminuíram 26,7 por cento (2,66 a 1,95 US$ per capita). CONCLUSÃO: Existe um claro movimento de transformação do modelo dos cuidados psiquiátricos no Brasil, passando do hospital psiquiátrico para os serviços comunitários. O sistema tem disponibilizado um maior número de modalidades de tratamento, incluindo o acesso gratuito aos psicotrópicos. A cobertura dos serviços comunitários, entretanto, ainda é precária e a reforma da assistência psiquiátrica não foi acompanhada pelo aumento do investimento público em saúde mental. A reforma psiquiátrica não é uma estratégia de redução de custos; ela necessariamente implica no aumento de investimentos se os países decidirem melhorar os cuidados em saúde para aqueles em desvantagens.