Family Health Program

Bringing health closer to the family and improving the quality of living of Brazilians in general are the main aims of Family Health Program (Programa Saúde da Família). The program was set up to organize basic services provided by Government while also giving new guidance to professional people who currently work with assistance, health promotion, prevention of illnesses and rehabilitation.

The service is provided by professional people from the Family Health teams (doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, community health agents, dentists and dental assistants), either at health centers or at the patient’s home.

Luis Oliveira/Ministério da Saúde Enlarge

• Medical and dental care are provided by the Family Health Program

These teams are responsible for following a given number of families in a well-defined geographical area, promoting actions that include prevention, recovery, rehabilitation after illness and maintenance of good health. Working closely to people of each region makes service easier and also facilitates the monitoring of the families in the community.

Family Health Teams (2009)

Total Number of Family Health Teams Implemented: 29,896

Total Brazilian Municipalities: 5,241

Population Covered: 56.78% of the Brazilian population, which works out at some 95.4 million people.

Would you like to find out more about the Family Health Program? If so, please access the website of the Basic Service Department of the Ministry for Health (content in portuguese).

Source:
Ministry of Health (content in portuguese)