THROUGH “SUS” LENSES: NOTES ON CHALLENGES AND ADVANCES IN HEALTH PROMOTION IN PRIMARY CARE

Abstract

I propose a critical, retrospective, and brief assessment of the challenges and advances in health promotion (HP) practices and policy, underlying SUS. The analytical narrative started from scientific/governmental texts (selected by convenience criteria) and professional situations experienced in loco in primary health care (PHC) services, in the last 15 years. I argue that the HP practices have had some important advances in PHC, materialized in successful experiences in the territories/communities. However, the profoundly unequal socio-health situation perpetuated in the country, and the scenario of social setbacks installed by the current federal government, transform most of the goals and proposals of the National Health Promotion Policy into unattainable perspectives for most Brazilians.