The current proposal of unification and decentralization of the Health Services in Brazil is the result of a long process of evolution of the National Health Services. Reviewing plane and programs created during this process (as PREV-SAÚDE, CONASP, and AIS), the orieniaiion of the offered services towards integration becomes clear, as well as their extension to the whole population. This process established the basis for the emergence of the SUDS, Unified and Decentralized Health System, nationwide. The state of São Paulo, which has already begun a process of administrative decentralization, had more conditions to accomplish this reform in the health field. Nevertheless, according to results obtained from previous research, the original proposal has been diverted. The causes of this diversion may be changes at the state government, but also the reaction of some influential groups.
health politics; health national system; SUDS; state of São Paulo; decentralization; administrative reform