Covid-19 and chronic conditions: lessons to strengthen care in primary health care

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To analyze the work process of Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals regarding care practices aimed at users with hypertension and diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic in a capital in Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who provided care and followed up this subpopulation in PHC. In addition, municipal documents and news reports from the Municipal Department of Health about Covid-19 and PHC were analyzed. The study criteria were Primary Health Care workers who acted in the Covid-19 pandemic in the same Family Health unit. Data were analyzed according to the health work process reference of Mendes-Gonçalves. RESULTS: The pandemic has imposed significant changes in PHC practices. We observed priority of spontaneous demand, weaknesses in continuous monitoring of users, emphasis on prescriptions renewal, and work in vast territories, with unattended areas, by the Family Health Strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Health practices aimed at users with chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, remain fragmented and should be resumed, but based on equity, with planning, monitoring, and knowledge of their territory in such a way to provide comprehensive and problem-solving access to the population that remains "isolated," even with the end of the pandemic.