Background and objectives:
The historical, political and geographic context determine complex obstacles for healthcare managers and staff in the Brazilian public health system, that require managerial strategies which could induce positive changes for healthcare services, professionals and patients. In this sense, a new model of managerial intervention started in the early 2000s in Brazil, named Institutional Support, defined as a series of actions including coordination, planning, evaluation and supervision of a healthcare service shared by its own workers and professionals of other management levels. Traditionally, in the Brazilian Primary Healthcare (PHC), the medical specialists in Family Practice are kept away from managerial roles. The purpose of this study is to present the PHC system in Rio de Janeiro and the role of Family Practitioners in its management.

Methods:
This is an experience report based on the narrative of Family Practitioners working in public PHC management and in the identification of their role in Institutional Support.

Results:
Family Practitioners have several roles as managers in the PHC management, such as medical directors of PHC services, regional medical coordinators and administrator in the Municipal Secretary of Health. Potentialized by an expanded understanding of care demands, including clinical and administrative aspects, and by developing institutional democratization and co-management, Family Practice specialists have been qualifying the PHC system through Institutional Support, strengthening its role in health promotion and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of diseases, and also promoting financial sustainability for the health system.

Conclusions:
Family Practice is a comprehensive medical specialty, with focus on individual, familiar and communitary care, but also with important competencies that can contribute for healthcare management, especially in roles of Institutional Support.