National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca

Since its foundation in 1954, ENSP tries to supply and to expand commitment with the social needs of the health professionals. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, ENSP/FIOCRUZ became one of the main institutions to feature the debate about the necessity of having a health reform and a public and universal system in health. In these decades, the post-graduation stricto sensu (master degree in 1977 and PhD in 1980) has been consolidated and new courses of lato sensu (residence, specialization) have been developed. In 1998 ENSP implanted its first program for Distance Education (EAD/ ENSP/ FIOCRUZ) and in the 2000’s it begins the first courses of professional master degree. Both experiences are strategic initiatives of training and qualification in health that offer opportunities of post-graduation to workers from the health system in an integrated way to its work process. Based on that, they aim to help building and consolidating the Unified Health System, by training professionals who worry about efficacy, integrality and equity for the system improvement.

During these years of existence, ENSP has been performing an admittedly relevant role on the establishment and spread of the paradigm of health knowledge and action in the country – becoming the greatest post-graduation program of Latin America in the Public Health area. It performs a strategic role in several structural networks in the health field, in national or international range. We have to highlight both networks in which ENSP performs the role of Executive Secretariat: Schools Network and Training Centers in Public Health (RedEscola) and the Schools Network of Public Health of UNASUL (RESP/UNASUR).