The role of local authorities in implementing health care with the gender perspective: The case of the Women's Total Health Care Program in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Discusses the role of local governments in introducing a gender perspective to the implementation of governmental women’s health care policies and programs. This paper also aims at a contribution to national governments for the effective implementation of women’s health care programs as defined in the Beijing Platform for Action. Focuses on a concrete experience of mainstreaming the gender perspective into the design, implementation and monitoring of governmental health policies: a program carried out in the city of São Paulo from 1989 to 1992 named Women’s Total Health Care Program — PAISM. The impact of this experience — initiated in the late 80´s — on governmental policy-making in other Brazilian cities and towns and its contribution to the advancement of women’s rights at national level will also be analyzed. Also pointed out here is the importance of the involvement of gender-aware health professionals and the role of women’s organizations in securing continuity of governmental programs within stable economical and political contexts. [author]