PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AS A STRATEGY FOR EQUITY: POTENTIALITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BRAZILIAN UNIFIED HEALTH SYSTEM (SUS)

Abstract

Primary Health Care (PHC) is a fundamental pillar for promoting equity within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), acting as the main entry point and coordinator of care. This study aims to analyze the potential and challenges of PHC in reducing health inequalities in Brazil. This is a qualitative narrative literature review based on classical and contemporary authors, such as Starfield (2002), Mendes (2011), and Giovanella et al. (2012), as well as official documents from the Ministry of Health. The results demonstrate that PHC significantly contributes to expanding access, ensuring continuity of care, promoting comprehensiveness, and coordinating health care networks, especially through the Family Health Strategy, considered the main organizational model of SUS. Furthermore, PHC plays an important role in health promotion, disease prevention, and addressing social determinants of health. However, persistent challenges include chronic underfunding, regional inequalities in service provision, workforce training and retention issues, as well as limitations in service effectiveness and integration with other levels of care. It is concluded that PHC has strong potential to promote equity, but its effectiveness depends on continuous strengthening through increased investment, improved management, and professional valorization.