Factors associated with judicial requests for access to ICU beds in the State of São Paulo

Abstract

Introduction: The search for the judicialization of health has been growing exponentially in the country and therefore an analysis of its effects and results in the health system is extremely important. Objective: to analyze the service capacity of the public health system regarding the existing demand for ICU beds (intensive care unit), associated with the judicialization processes in the State of São Paulo. Methodology: Cross-sectional study consisting of all judgments at the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo, in the period between 2009 and 2019. The data were analyzed in a descriptive manner and expressed in absolute frequencies. Results: 299 actions were selected for analysis, with the highest demand being the principal author in the private sphere (n = 292). There was an increase in the number of bed demand processes from 2009 to 2019 (n = 66).  Conclusions: one cannot be precise if there is a social inequity, given the lack of information in the judgments to characterize the authorship profile.