Audiências públicas sobre saúde no Legislativo Estadual potiguar: compatibilização com práticas de participação social

Abstract

This study investigates how public hearings on health conducted in the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte (ALRN) during the 2019-2023 legislative term align with practices of social participation. The research seeks to understand whether these events contribute to the development of public policies, influence legislative decisions, and foster citizen engagement. The methodological approach is qualitative, employing documentary and bibliographic analysis of public data related to the legislative process. The findings were systematized into advances, obstacles, and recommendations for improving these meetings. Although the hearings promote broad debates and enable interaction among parliamentarians, experts, and civil society, significant weaknesses were identified, such as the absence of formal systematization of the proposals presented, the lack of feedback to participants, and limitations in the shared responsibility of the involved actors. Additionally, structural issues, such as accessibility barriers and challenges in decentralizing hearings to reach regional areas, restrict their reach and compromise the full effectiveness of social participation. The study suggests improvements in the organization and execution of public hearings, including the creation of mechanisms for monitoring, proposal systematization, and feedback, as well as strategies to enhance access and regional representation. By identifying pathways to strengthen social participation, this work aims to contribute to a more inclusive, deliberative legislative democracy aligned with societal demands.