Bed demand and occupancy within the Brazilian National Health System for the most common types of cancer in Brazil, from 2018 to 2021: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze bed demand and occupancy within the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS) for the main types of cancer in Brazil, from 2018 to 2021.

METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, using data from the Hospital Information System. Queuing theory model was used for calculating average admission rate, average hospitalization rate, probability of overload, and average number of people in the queue.

RESULTS

The Southeast and South regions showed the highest average hospitalization rates, while the North region showed the lowest rates. The Southeast region presented a high probability of surgical bed overload, especially in the states of São Paulo (99.0%), Minas Gerais (97.0%) and Rio de Janeiro (97.0%). São Paulo state showed an overload above 95.0% in all types of beds analyzed.

CONCLUSION

There was a high probability of oncology bed occupancy within the Brazilian National Health System, especially surgical and medical beds, and regional disparities in bed overload.

MAIN RESULTS

The study found a high demand for hospital admissions to oncological bed in the Southeast region and a high probability of system overload in the states of the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil, thus highlighting the inequities in access to healthcare services in the country.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES

This study presents a methodology for the improved allocation of resources and management of surgical and medical bed flows in areas with the highest bed overload and regions with low service availability.

PERSPECTIVES

It is necessary to promote public policies that ensure the equitable supply of beds for oncological treatment within the SUS, especially in states with bed overload and healthcare service gaps.