HEALTH SYSTEM PROFILES BRAZIL
Health System Profile of Brazil
The State provides the right to health through social and economic policies designed to minimize the risk of diseases and ensure universal and equitable access to services for health promotion, protection, and healing. The Constitution created the basis for the implementation of a single unified public health system (Unified Health System—SUS). Based on decentralized universal access, regions provide comprehensive care under the principle of equity (care is provided to every individual according to need).
The Ministry of Health coordinates the Unified Health System (SUS) at the national level. The federal government, through the Ministry of Health and the National Health Council, and in coordination with other federal agencies, performs functions related to the formulation of standards and national goals, financing, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of health system operations, regulation of technical standards for health care, coordination of epidemiological surveillance and health information systems, national health, and the formulation of and compliance with national policy on the distribution of health care supplies and inputs, etc.
Health System Profile of Brazil
(English version)
(Portuguese Version)
The second edition of this profile was prepared by a group of 30 technicians and decisionmakers at the Ministry of Health, the State Health Secretariats of Goias, Bahía, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Río de Janeiro and Rondônia, and the PAHO/WHO Representative Office in Brazil. The external review was completed by the Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundacão Osvaldo Cruz. PAHO/WHO-Brazil was in charge of technical coordination. Final review, edition, and translation are the responsibility of the Health Systems and Policies Unit, PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC.
Link to Brazil Ministry of Health
Link to PAHO/WHO country office in Brazil