A revolutionary alternative to the National Health Service? The newspaper Saúde pelo povo (1975-1977)

Abstract

The Portuguese revolutionary process (1974-1976) constituted a fundamental break for the construction of democracy in the country. Social movements were organized with a view to overcoming the inheritances of the authoritarian regime. In health, the period saw a set of initiatives emerge. The present article aims to portray the struggles for the conquest of the right to health from the study of the newspaper Saúde por povo (1975-1977). This publication became a spokesperson for health professionals and users for the construction of a National Health Service. The newspaper expressed an alternative project to the SNS presented in 1979. The study of Saúde pelo povo becomes essential to portray this revolutionary path to health in Portugal.