The paper discusses assessments on difficulties for creating participatory channels in developing countries, particularly in Latin America, due to the weakness of their political institutions as well as civil societies. According to them, in the health field, initiatives to promote participation have been unsuccessful. The paper sustains that the experience of Municipal Health Councils in Brazil does not confirm these affirmations. It also analyses the determinants of a successful participatory process in these Councils.
Participation; Municipal Health Councils; Determinants of User Participation