PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES IN BRAZIL: CHALLENGES, POTENTIALITIES, AND THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE

Abstract

This article proposes a reflection on public health policies in Brazil, examining their role as drivers of social change, reduction of inequalities, and response to vulnerability. Beginning with an analysis of the national public health landscape—with a focus on the perceptions and challenges faced by Family and Community Medicine (FCM)—the article discusses the interface between the structure of the Unified Health System (SUS) and the complex contemporary social, economic, and political dynamics. The methodological approach used was a literature review. The aim was to understand the possibilities and limitations of state interventions and the actions of democratic social forces in promoting inclusion, equity, and the construction of a less unequal society. The interdisciplinary approach, brings together perspectives ranging from health management to the lived experiences of professionals and users. It draws on the extensive bibliography of the original dissertation to support the argument and enrich the debate, taking into account the advances and dilemmas arising from processes involving disputes among different social actors.