This study aimed at analysing people's participation in Local Health Committees and understanding the participatory action of its members by identifying potentialities and limits in the process. We used the qualitative research approach, with interviews and observation as data collection methods. By applying Habermas's theoretical referential, we visualised the people's participation as a social and historical phenomenon marked by many fights. We found a communication that is very focused on strategic actions. However, we visualised possibilities to build an autonomous public space. We concluded that the people's participation can potentially act in the transformation of healthcare practices and, as such, it should be included by municipal administrators as a tool to elaborate and implement healthcare policies.
people's participation; health; social control