The study aimed to identify the major public policy on HIV/AIDS in Brazilian society, since 1980; and to reflect on their impact on the assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Descriptors: public health policies, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and integral health care, we obtained a sample of 23 articles in Medline and Lilacs data bases. After analysis, there were two moments: first, the emergence of public policies in response to the AIDS epidemic, and second, to improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Despite the significant advances achieved in terms of public health policies in Brazil, there is a complex way in the pursuit of quality of care for people with HIV/AIDS.