PACIENTES ONCOLÓGICOS EM CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS NAS REDES DE ATENÇÃO A SAÚDE EM UMA REGIÃO DE SAÚDE DOINTERIOR DE SÃO PAULO: A ANÁLISE DO FLUXO ASSISTENCIAL, DAS ÁREAS E DOMÍNIOS DO CUIDADO

Palliative care is a comprehensive approach aimed at promoting the quality of life of patients with serious, progressive, and incurable illnesses, as well as their families, through the prevention and relief of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual suffering. Unlike the curative model, this practice prioritizes patient autonomy, respect for individual decisions, and dignity until the end of life. In the oncological context, palliative care should be introduced early, in parallel with specific treatments, to ensure symptom control and provide emotional support to both patients and their families. The Health Care Network (RAS), established in Brazil by Ordinance No. 4,279/2010, seeks to organize care into interconnected levels of complexity, promoting comprehensiveness and continuity. Within this framework, palliative care requires well-defined care flows, integration between services, and trained multidisciplinary teams. The National Palliative Care Policy, updated by Ordinance GM/MS No. 3,681/2024, defines guidelines for its nationwide implementation, covering structural, clinical, and management aspects. This qualitative, exploratory field study analyzed the implementation of oncological palliative care in municipalities of the Regional Health Department of Franca (DRS VIII – SP), based on semi-structured interviews with municipal health managers. Findings revealed the predominance of Primary Care as the main entry point and executor of follow-up, but with insufficient specific protocols, limited professional training, and lack of awareness of national guidelines. It is concluded that consolidating palliative care within the RAS requires effective integration between care levels, continuous professional education, and political prioritization to ensure humanized, high-quality care for patients and their families.