THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN PROMOTING COLLECTIVE HEALTH AND COMBATING INEQUALITIES

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in promoting collective health and combating social inequalities, through an integrative literature review. The research is justified by the growing relevance of NGOs in the global health scenario, especially in contexts of vulnerability and low government coverage. The methodology used was based on the selection of studies published in the last ten years in databases such as PubMed, Scielo and Lilacs. The results indicate that NGOs play a key role in expanding access to health services, in education and disease prevention, and in advocating for more inclusive public policies. However, challenges have been identified, such as financial sustainability and lack of integration with public health systems, which may jeopardise the continuity of their actions. The conclusion of the study reaffirms the importance of NGOs for strengthening public health, but suggests the need for greater cooperation between NGOs and governments, in addition to the creation of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of their interventions. Future research can explore solutions to overcome these challenges and expand the impact of NGOs in combating social inequalities.