COAPES and its potential in the coordination of private investments in practice fields: enhancing the student experience and the quality of care in public health facilities

Abstract

The article “COAPES and its potential in the coordination of private investments in practice fields: enhancing the student experience and the quality of care in public health facilities” analyzes the role of the Contrato Organizativo de Ação Pública de Ensino-Saúde (COAPES) as a strategic instrument for integrating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with the public sector in the training of health professionals. The main objective is to understand how COAPES can strengthen the teaching-service relationship, generating mutual benefits by improving both students’ learning experiences and the quality of healthcare provided to the population. The methodology is based on a documental and interpretative analysis of the implementation of COAPES in different Brazilian municipalities, taking into account public policies and recent studies addressing the teaching-service-community integration process. The results show that, since 2015, COAPES has enabled more balanced and transparent relationships between HEIs and public managers, promoting a fairer distribution of practice fields and the development of joint projects focused on continuing education and infrastructure improvement in public health units. Furthermore, the agreement has encouraged the creation of medical residency programs tailored to local healthcare needs, contributing to professional retention and strengthening interdisciplinary training. It is concluded that COAPES represents a significant advance in consolidating the integration between education and health services, transforming former exchange-based relationships into institutional partnerships grounded in co-responsibility, equity, and the qualification of Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).