Proposição de uma ferramenta para flexibilização das inspeções sanitárias

Introduction: The widespread national situation of inefficiency and lack of resources in sanitary surveillance agencies at the three levels of government stemming from traditionalism, bureaucratic rigidity, centralization, verticality, ritualism, and the complexity of inspection actions contributes to the fact that the decentralization process for municipal sanitary surveillance (Visas) still presents challenges and weaknesses to be overcome. Objective: To present the socioeconomic profile and outcomes of sanitary inspections carried out by municipalities in one of the health regions of Minas Gerais, as well as to propose a tool for the flexibilization of sanitary inspections. Method: The flexibilization tool was developed considering the current legislation, preferably covering activities categorized as sanitary risk levels I and II. The tool was constructed based on the sanitary risk level, the size of the establishment, and the nonconformities identified in the products and services. Secondary data from the Minas Gerais sanitary risk notification system (VIGIRISCO-2022) were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively to outline the inspection profile. To test the application of the flexibilization tool, ten inspection reports from the year 2023 were evaluated, covering different areas of economic activity, from one of the small municipalities in one of Minas Gerais’ regional health departments. Results: The main deviations found were a lack of hygiene, product quality, and quality assurance. Activities related to food and health services accounted for 72.0% of the inspections. Approximately 60.0% of the establishments showed some non-conformity, 39.3% of which was related to documentation and quality assurance management. Considering only the establishments classified as Risk I and II, the results of the application of the flexibility tool showed that 71.0% of the establishments had inspections every two years or more. Clonclusion: The flexibilization tool proved to be a rational, documented alternative, based on technical criteria, with a lower degree of subjectivity to help manage the work of municipal Visas.