POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS E GESTÃO EM SAÚDE: ESTRATÉGIAS PARA O FORTALECIMENTO DO SISTEMA ÚNICO DE SAÚDE

Introduction: Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) is one of the country's main public policies, guaranteeing universal, comprehensive, and equitable access to health services. However, challenges related to financing, service management, and regional inequalities require strategies aimed at strengthening the system. Objective: To describe public policies and health management as strategies for strengthening the Unified Health System. Methodology: An integrative literature review was conducted using the LILACS, MEDLINE, and SciELO databases. The MeSH/DeCS descriptors "Health Policy," "Health Management," and "Unified Health System" were used, combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Articles published between 2021 and 2026, available in full text in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, were included. Duplicate articles, studies without full-text access, and publications that did not directly address the topic were excluded. Results and Discussion: Several studies have demonstrated that strengthening the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) is linked to improved management, strategic planning, strengthening of Primary Health Care, the use of information technologies, and integration among different levels of care. Continuing professional development and social participation were also highlighted. Despite progress, challenges related to insufficient funding and regional inequalities in service delivery persist. Conclusion: Effective public policies, along with qualified management, are fundamental to strengthening the SUS and promoting greater efficiency, equity, and quality in healthcare for the population.