Thomaz da Matta-Machado releases autobiography on public health

Physician and former Belo Horizonte councilman Antonio Thomaz Gonzaga da Matta-Machado has released his autobiographical book, ‘O olhar para a saúde pública: cidade, política e universidade’ (The Look at Public Health: City, Politics, and University).

The work chronicles nearly 50 years of his career, spanning his medical studies at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) during the military dictatorship to his political and academic contributions. Matta-Machado was a key figure in the movement that led to the creation of Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) and authored the law establishing the Municipal Health Council in Belo Horizonte.

Beyond public health, the book details his involvement in environmental issues through Projeto Manuelzão, aimed at the restoration of the Rio das Velhas, as well as his work in urban activities and public transportation. The narrative also touches upon his personal history, including the impact of the political repression during the 1970s.