The purpose of this paper is to define health services research (HSH) and to trace its origin and development, based on the experience of other countries where HSH has become a fairly distinct and recognizable area of investigation in both academic and health institutions. Some comments are made on the relationship between health services research and health policy. It is emphasized the need to develop health services research in Brazil and to enhance the commitment from all those programs in health services administration engaged in research. In order to enhance HSH status in Brazil and to avoid it to become isolated from the maintenance of medical and social research, a health services research center should be created. A higher impact of health services research on the reorientation of health policy in Brazil requires the unification of existing scarce resources and the definition of research priorities.