Can four rival mayors overcome politics, competing interests, and scarce resources to transform healthcare in Bahia, Brazil? This multi-issue, multi-party negotiation role-play puts participants into the heart of one Brazilian state’s ambitious health regionalisation agenda. For years, medium-complexity care such as CT scans and specialist consultations had been concentrated in the state capital, creating deep disparities in access, with rural patients often delaying or missing vital care. To close this gap, the state introduced regional polyclinics managed by consortia of mayors and the state government. Participation, however, is completely voluntary, and a few regions have yet to join.

This simulation focuses on one of these regions, Ventura. In Ventura (fictionalised for teaching purposes), four municipalities must decide if they will at last form a consortium, and, if so, what health services to offer. Participants role-play as mayors and state representatives negotiating the terms of the collaboration. The stakes are high: success promises improved health outcomes and potentially reduced costs for the region, but, with politics, priorities, and resources varying widely between municipalities, each party is striving to achieve the best outcome for their own constituents.

Coming Soon: 1 Jan 2026