The objective of this paper is to discuss the development of the right to healthcare in Brazil. It begins with the process of creating social rights, going from the rise of these rights in the Brazilian Constitution until reaching the current understandings of certain social groups concerning the right to healthcare. The analysis is based on research conducted in Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, in regards to the joint action between health councils and the Public Ministry. It can be observed that the right to healthcare has been associated with the idea of access to healthcare services. This, however, has been shown to be a limiting aspect in the fight for the security and expansion of this right. For this reason, certain groups of society have taken on a more active attitude regarding the understanding of this right. This understanding has yielded substantial gains in the struggle for the expansion of the right to healthcare in Brazil. Furthermore, detailing the different concepts about the right to healthcare of a healthcare council that has proven to be active in the national scenario, may give indications of the possible forms of action and strategies developed in these institutions to guarantee this right.
right to healthcare; healthcare councils; social rights