The federal funding of the oral health policy in Brazil between 2003 and 2017

ABSTRACT This study described and analyzed the federal financial transfers for the Oral Health Policy in Brazil (PNSB), in the period 2003-2017. A retrospective analysis of the federal funding of the PNSB was carried out with data collected from the National Health Fund base under the headings related to oral health with correction of values by Consumer Price Index (IPCA) until 2017. The historical series of spending for oral health care in 2003-2017 showed a growing federal spending up to 2012, falling at the beginning of 2013, maintaining values from 2013 to 2016 and a slight reduction in 2017, reaching R$ 1,059,555,548.48 this past year. This meant that the percentage of federal government transfer to oral health in relation to the total transfer rate increased from 0.62% in 2003 to 1.63% in 2017. There was an increase in the percentage share of Specialized Care financing, mainly as of 2013, from 2.3% in 2008 to 21.6% in 2017. Primary Care received 97.3% of federal funding in 2003 and only 78.3% in 2017. The investment has been low. Fiscal austerity measures and changes in funding blocks may indicate an institutionalized path of reduction of federal transfer in health, which may impact this particular sectoral policy.