This paper presents and discusses the role of the research "Medical and Sanitary Care" (Assistência médico-sanitária-AMS) developed by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) in the context of the Brazilian Health System Reform process. It points out the importance of stablishing a greater interaction between the IBGE and the user of this institution 's information system in such a way that users' needs can be more clearly expressed in order to achieve a more productive use of the available information. Finally, the Author suggests that there should be some improvements in the diffusion of these researches and in the access to IBGE 's data bases, for these issues constitute two major barriers for the health planning process.
