Since the beginning of Brazilian civilization, there is already disclosure of pharmaceutical drugs being the favorite of the ads. The advertising of medicines, while persuasive strategy, may represent health risk, if not compromised with the release of accurate and safe information. For that reason, there are several attempts at sanitary control by the state, which appears to be consolidated in the struggles of the ethical and legal domain. In seeking to understand the context that guides, the current situation of the drug advertising problem, this study provides a historical background, from the main legal frameworks: "Junta Central de Higiene" (1851), "Lei de Vigilância Sanitária" (1976) and the creation of "ANVISA" (1999). It was identified that milestone follows the country structural context, contributing to the consolidation of the regulation's field nowadays.
drug publicity; health surveillance; history
