FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE: IMPORTANCE, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Abstract
Medicina de Família e Comunidade (Family and Community Medicine) plays a fundamental role in the organization of health systems oriented toward Atenção Primária à Saúde (Primary Health Care), being recognized as an essential strategy for promoting equity, comprehensiveness, and efficiency in care delivery. This study aimed to analyze the importance of Family and Community Medicine within the Primary Health Care context through a literature review. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical study conducted using databases such as SciELO, PubMed, LILACS, and Google Scholar, including articles published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The results indicate that the performance of family physicians significantly contributes to improving health indicators, reducing avoidable hospitalizations, and expanding access to healthcare services, especially among vulnerable populations. Furthermore, Family and Community Medicine demonstrates high cost-effectiveness by prioritizing preventive actions and longitudinal patient follow-up. However, challenges remain regarding professional training, recognition of the specialty, and structural limitations of health systems. It is concluded that Family and Community Medicine is a central element for strengthening Primary Health Care and ensuring the sustainability of universal health systems, highlighting the need for increased investment in public policies, medical education, and service organization.
Author Biographies
First-year medical student at Universidade Iguaçu. Medical student at Universidade Iguaçu.
Physician graduated from Centro Universitário FIPMoc. Specialist in Internal Medicine with Specialist Qualification Registration by the Sociedade Brasileira de Clínica Médica. Physician at Hospital Aroldo Tourinho; public servant physician at the City Hall of Montes Claros; university preceptor/professor and medical residency preceptor at Hospital das Clínicas Dr. Mário Ribeiro.
Physician and postgraduate student in Psychiatry at Centro Universitário Pitágoras - UNIFIPMoc, with experience in Primary Health Care, Family Health Strategy, and urgent/emergency care. Physician and postgraduate student in Psychiatry at Centro Universitário Pitágoras - UNIFIPMoc. Physician working in the Family Health Strategy.
Physician, specialist in Family and Community Medicine from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), with experience in Primary Health Care, Family Health Strategy, and urgent/emergency care. Specialist in Family and Community Medicine from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). Scholarship physician affiliated with the Agência Brasileira de Apoio à Gestão do SUS (AgSUS).
Physician and postgraduate student in Psychiatry at Centro Universitário Pitágoras - UNIFIPMoc, with experience in Primary Health Care, Family Health Strategy, and urgent/emergency care.
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