Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 LicenseLeón, MontserratJiménez, MartaVidal, Nicole L.Bermúdez, KevenDe Vos, Pol2020-03-062020-03-062020-02-19León, M., Jiménez, M., Vidal, N., Bermúdez, K. and De Vos, P. (2020) ‘The role of social movements in strengthening health systems: the experience of the national health forum in el salvador(2009–2018)’, International Journal of Health Services, 50(2), pp. 218–233. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731420905262.1541-44690020-7314https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/10535https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731420905262From Crossref via Jisc Publications RouterNicole Vidal - ORCID 0000-0001-6159-2757 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6159-2757Pol de Vos - ORCID 0000-0002-1672-6469 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1672-6469In 2009, the newly elected FMLN government of El Salvador launched a comprehensive health reform, which gave the National Health Forum (NHF) a key role in developing community participation. This study aims to examine and analyze the content and impact of this social movement during the study period 2009–2018. The context was analyzed through relevant documents, which helped identify key stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews took place at 3 levels of decision making: the political level, the health professionals, and the community. Data were analyzed using a qualitative methodology. Participation is carried by a structure created by the Ministry of Health, the National Health Forum. The NHF developed 3 strategies: (1) leadership building in the communities through the strengthening of social, political, and economic skills, where they developed social accountability mechanisms at all decision-making levels of the health system; (2) the strategy carried by the sectoral working groups, where they responded to prioritized needs identified by the community; and (3) advocacy for human rights-based policies. The NHF, and its role in the strengthening of the National Public Health System, provides strong evidence of community participation strategies and co-governance with the health system within the social determinants of health scope.218–233The Author(s) 2020http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/Community ParticipationHealth Systems StrengtheningPrimary Health CareEmpowermentSocial MovementsPeople’s Health Movementarticle2020-02-29