# Law No. 918 of November 14, 1949

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647742](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647742)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-918-of-november-14-1949

## Summary

Law No. 918 of November 14, 1949 is a Brazilian federal statute that regulates the granting of scholarships to candidates for courses offered by the National Department of Health. Promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, this law was published in Rio de Janeiro and applies exclusively to the jurisdiction of Brazil. It represents a specific legislative measure aimed at supporting education and training in the health sector during the mid-20th century.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 918, de 14 de novembro de 1949
- **Type:** Federal statute (instance of statute)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies exclusively to Brazilian territory)
- **Promulgation Date:** November 14, 1949
- **Promulgated By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro (then capital of Brazil)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 918/1949
- **Main Subjects:**
  - Scholarship grants (Concessão)
  - Civil servants (Servidor)
  - Ministry of Education and Health (Ministério da Educação e Saúde)
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-11-14;918
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Digest Summary:** DISPÕE SOBRE CONCESSÃO DE BOLSAS DE ESTUDOS PARA CANDIDATOS AOS CURSOS DO DEPARTAMENTO NACIONAL DE SAUDE (Regulates the granting of scholarships to candidates for courses of the National Department of Health)

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 918 of November 14, 1949?**
Law No. 918 of November 14, 1949 specifically regulates the granting of scholarships to candidates applying for courses offered by Brazil's National Department of Health. This legislation was designed to support education and professional training in the health sector, likely addressing workforce development needs in public health during the post-World War II period.

**When and where was this law promulgated?**
The law was officially promulgated on November 14, 1949, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital at that time before the transfer to Brasília in 1960. The promulgation occurred during the presidency of Eurico Gaspar Dutra (1946-1951), Brazil's first democratically elected president after the Estado Novo dictatorship.

**What government entities are associated with this law?**
The law is directly connected to the Ministry of Education and Health (Ministério da Educação e Saúde), which was responsible for overseeing both education and health policies at the federal level during this period. The National Department of Health (Departamento Nacional de Saúde) operated under this ministry and was the specific entity whose courses were covered by the scholarship provisions.

**How is this law classified in legal and bibliographic systems?**
Law No. 918 is classified as a statute (formal written document that creates law) in legal terminology. In bibliographic systems, it is identified by its LexML Brazil ID (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-11-14;918) and is part of the WikiProject Brazilian Laws. The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese and carries the standard legal citation format Lei nº 918/1949.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 918 of November 14, 1949 represents an important historical marker in Brazil's public health and education policy development. Enacted during the early years of Brazil's redemocratization period following the Estado Novo dictatorship (1937-1945), this legislation reflects the government's efforts to strengthen professional training in the health sector. By establishing a framework for scholarship grants, the law aimed to increase access to specialized health education, potentially addressing workforce shortages and improving public health infrastructure.

The law's focus on the National Department of Health courses suggests a targeted approach to developing specific health-related competencies needed during Brazil's post-war development phase. As one of many legislative measures from this era, it contributes to understanding how Brazil structured its health education system and professional training programs during the mid-20th century. The law also serves as a historical document illustrating the organizational structure of Brazil's health and education ministries before their eventual separation into distinct entities.

## Notable For

- **Historical Context:** One of the early post-dictatorship laws addressing health education during Brazil's redemocratization period (1946-1964)
- **Health Sector Focus:** Specifically targets scholarships for National Department of Health courses, indicating prioritization of public health training
- **Ministerial Structure:** Reflects the combined Ministry of Education and Health that existed before the creation of separate ministries
- **Rio de Janeiro Publication:** Published when Rio de Janeiro was still Brazil's capital, before the 1960 transfer to Brasília
- **LexML Integration:** Part of Brazil's official legal documentation system with a dedicated LexML identifier
- **WikiProject Inclusion:** Recognized as part of the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its significance in legal documentation efforts

## Body

### Legislative Context and Historical Background

Law No. 918 of November 14, 1949 was promulgated during a significant transitional period in Brazilian history. The law was created just four years after the end of the Estado Novo dictatorship (1937-1945) led by Getúlio Vargas, during the presidency of Eurico Gaspar Dutra (1946-1951). This period marked Brazil's return to democratic governance and the beginning of the Fourth Brazilian Republic (1946-1964).

The legislation emerged in a post-World War II context where many countries, including Brazil, were focusing on rebuilding and strengthening their public institutions. The law's focus on health education scholarships suggests an effort to address potential workforce gaps in the health sector and improve public health infrastructure following the war years.

### Governmental Structure and Responsible Entities

The law is directly associated with the Ministry of Education and Health (Ministério da Educação e Saúde), a governmental body that combined both education and health portfolios under a single ministry. This organizational structure was characteristic of the period before Brazil established separate ministries for education and health.

The National Department of Health (Departamento Nacional de Saúde) operated under this ministry and was responsible for overseeing public health policies and programs at the federal level. The scholarships regulated by Law No. 918 were specifically intended for candidates applying to courses offered by this department, indicating a targeted approach to developing health sector competencies.

### Legal Characteristics and Classification

Law No. 918 is classified as a statute, which in legal terminology refers to a formal written document that creates law. As an instance of this legal category, it represents a specific legislative act with binding legal force within its jurisdiction.

The law carries the standard Brazilian legal citation format "Lei nº 918/1949," which includes the law number and year of promulgation. This citation format is used in legal references and documentation throughout Brazil's legal system.

### Publication and Jurisdictional Details

The law was officially published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital city at the time of promulgation. Rio de Janeiro remained the capital until April 21, 1960, when the federal government was transferred to the newly constructed city of Brasília.

Law No. 918 applies exclusively to the jurisdiction of Brazil, meaning its provisions are valid throughout the entire federal territory. The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, the official language of Brazil, and follows the standard legal language conventions of the period.

### Documentation and Digital Preservation

The law is preserved in Brazil's official legal documentation systems, including the LexML Brazil database. Its unique identifier in this system is "urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-11-14;918," which allows for precise referencing in legal and bibliographic contexts.

Law No. 918 is also part of the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, an initiative aimed at documenting and organizing information about Brazilian legislation. This inclusion indicates the law's recognized importance in the broader context of Brazilian legal history.

### Content and Policy Implications

The law's digest summary indicates that it "regulates the granting of scholarships to candidates for courses of the National Department of Health." This suggests that the legislation established the legal framework for:

1. Determining eligibility criteria for scholarship applicants
2. Defining the application and selection processes
3. Establishing the terms and conditions of the scholarships
4. Specifying the courses covered under the scholarship program

While the exact details of these provisions are not specified in the available data, the law's existence demonstrates the Brazilian government's commitment to supporting health education through financial assistance programs.

### Historical Significance in Health Education

Law No. 918 represents an important historical document in the development of Brazil's health education system. During the mid-20th century, Brazil was working to expand its public health infrastructure and professional training programs to meet the needs of its growing population.

The scholarship program established by this law likely contributed to increasing the number of qualified health professionals in Brazil, particularly in public health roles. This would have been crucial for implementing health policies and delivering healthcare services across the country's vast territory.

### Relationship to Broader Educational Policies

The law should be understood within the context of Brazil's broader educational policies during the Dutra administration and the early years of the Fourth Republic. This period saw efforts to expand access to education at various levels, including professional and technical training programs.

Law No. 918's focus on health sector scholarships complements other educational initiatives of the time, reflecting a comprehensive approach to workforce development across different sectors of the economy.

### Preservation and Access

The law remains accessible through official Brazilian legal databases and documentation systems. Its inclusion in the LexML Brazil system ensures that legal professionals, researchers, and the general public can access the original text and related legal information.

The law's presence in digital archives and wiki projects also facilitates historical research and comparative studies of Brazilian legislation, contributing to the preservation of the country's legal heritage.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-11-14;918)
2. LexML Brasil