This survey examined the status of the implementation of policies for tobacco control in a medium-sized municipality through an assessment of actions recommended by the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) promoted by Primary Health Care (PHC) units. The coordinator of the local NTCP and professionals from 44 PHC units of Juiz de Fora in the state of Minas Gerais were interviewed, between May and July 2011. It was observed that the actions of treatment and health promotion were being duly executed, the highlight being the training of professionals to implement treatment in PHC. In 40.9%, there is the provision of treatment for smokers, and in 88.6% the actions are concentrated in activities in waiting rooms, groups and individual consultations. Limitations identified are probably not restricted to the municipality, such as inadequate structuring of units, high turnover, the varying degree of involvement of professionals in implementing the service and also the lack of mechanisms to enable them to implement and give continuity to care among their other responsibilities. The major challenge for tobacco control is to conduct intersectoral actions and in primary health care. The results can serve for the formulation of strategic health actions in other parts of the country.
Primary Health Care; National Tobacco Control Program; Smoking