Health promotion in primary care: effects and limitations in conservative neoliberalism

This article aims to understand and analyze the effects and limitations of Health Promotion in Primary Health Care (PHC). We conducted genealogical, qualitative research with 23 PHC workers. The analysis originated the following datasets: effects of Health Promotion practices performed in PHC and difficulties and limitations in conducting the practices. The results show that the main impact of Health Promotion is reducing medicalization and adopting Expanded Clinic elements in the care provided. The main difficulties arise from the poor public policies due to the fiscal austerity measures adopted in recent years. Strengthening the collective nature of health demands and their responses is a possibility of resisting in the face of the authoritarian neoliberal rationality currently prevailing in the Brazilian State.