Várzea Grande health council training strengthens municipal health governance

Representatives of Várzea Grande’s Municipal Health Council and staff from the city’s Health Secretariat attended a three‑day “Training for Strengthening Health Control: Governance and Monitoring of Plans” organized by the Mato Grosso Court of Auditors (TCE‑MT). Held from 23 to 25 May, the program gathered participants from all 142 municipalities in the state to improve the capacity of municipal health councils and enhance social control over the SUS.

Municipal Health Secretary Valéria Nogueira opened the event, emphasizing the importance of technical qualification for transparent and efficient public health management. Council President Joilson Ruas and Planning Coordinator Daniella Macieski highlighted how the training fosters participatory planning and stronger oversight.

During the forum, TCE‑MT counselor Guilherme Antonio Maluf presented a diagnostic of council infrastructure, noting that 40 % lack dedicated rooms, 84 % have inadequate bathrooms, only 2 % possess a dedicated vehicle, and 13 % cannot access municipal balance‑sheet data. Although most councils fulfill basic procedural requirements, deeper technical analyses remain limited. The court will issue formal recommendations to municipal leaders and promote continuous training, including the rollout of a National Panel of Municipal Health Plans to improve data transparency across Brazil.