The daily work of managers in basic health units

Abstract

This is a qualitative study to understand the activities carried out by managers of basic health care units in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data collected by interview underwent discourse analysis and were divided into two categories. We found that the activities of the day-to-day work of the managers mix with those of basic qualification. Managers have learned to work with a lack of resources, but feel rewarded with the responses they manage to give to the community. They have had to work facing new demands which require skills that go beyond the technical and administrative in order to provide a more humanized care.