Brazilian health policies in the 1980s fomi the central theme of this article, which analyzes the policies emergent traits (conjunctural) and repeated, constant traits (structural). Witíi the purpose of discerning continuities in health discourses andpractices, anumberofhistorical momentsleadingupto the 1980sareanalyzed, from the First Republic through the democratic abertura (opening) that occured at theendoftheseventiesandbeginningoftheeighties.Thetopicsofsanitary reform, the unificationof health services, institucional decentralization, theorganizational ranking of medicai acts and services, and popular participation in health services are highlighted.