ENSINO DA MEDICINA SOCIAL NA GRADUAÇÃO

Summary: The preventive Department of the “Universidade Federal da Bahia” (Brazil) lauched a new core study unit for the medical undergraduate teaching, called Introduction to Social Medicine. The unit is compulsory and expected to be undertaken at the third term of the course. This article discusses the planning and implantation process of the first core unit in 1992. The authors consider that Social Medicina is envolved with the understanding of the relation between specific groups and the process of health/disease, particularly with the way that they face the burden od illness. Besides the State Sector, diverse pressure groups are here taken into consideration: political parties, trade unions, corporate and community (neighbourdhood) organizations etc. The objectives and contents of the unit is discussed. The studentes evaluation of the teachong (theoretical and practical work) is also analysed. The lauching of this new unit has been considered positive and worthwhile by the authors.