In this article the authors present a brief review of the household health surveys developed in Brazil in the last 20 years. Some important methodological problems related to their conception and sample design are discussed, and a brief review of the National Household Survey Health supplements conducted in 1981, 1986, 1998 and 2003 is presented. Given the already established agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics as to inclusion of a Health supplement in the 2008 National Household Survey, the authors propose a debate on the advantages and limitations of this instrument for the collection of data on morbidity, access to and utilization of health services. Finally, the authors stress the need for a policy towards generation of population-based information and its incorporation in the National Health Information System. Surveys must be periodically conducted and their financing must be guaranteed.
Health Information; Health surveys; Health policies evaluation