OECD Reviews of Health Systems: Brazil 2021
In the 30 years since the inception of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, or SUS), Brazil has reduced health inequalities, and improved coverage and access to health care. However, mobilising sufficient financing for the universal health coverage mandate of SUS has been a constant challenge, not helped by persistent inefficiencies in the use of resources in the Brazilian health system. Demographic and epidemiological changes, rising expectations from society, and the emerging needs of a post-COVID‑19 recovery period mean that continued adjustments and reforms are needed to ensure the sustainability of the health system. This review uses internationally recognised indicators and policy frameworks to examine the performance of Brazilian health system. The report points to key actions that Brazil should consider prioritising in the coming years to strengthen health system performance, especially improving efficiency and sustainability of financing, upgrading its health data infrastructure to leverage a digital transformation, and addressing major population risk factors such as overweight and harmful alcohol consumption. A companion publication with a review of primary health care in Brazil further examines the key role of primary health care to improve the performance of the Brazilian health system.
Also available in: Portuguese
The economics of overweight in Brazil
Overweight is a growing public health challenge in Brazil, with over half of the population overweight in 2016. Brazilians have unhealthier food consumption habits than OECD countries, while the prevalence of insufficient physical activity has increased more rapidly in Brazil than elsewhere over the past decades. Brazil has started to address the issue of overweight in a number of policies and interventions, including a food labelling scheme and school-based policies such as the Programa Saúde na Escola. While these are valuable strategies, Brazil could aim for a more ambitious multi-sectoral and comprehensive response. Brazil should better influence lifestyles through information and education programmes such as introducing menu labelling in restaurants, mass media campaigns, and promoting prescription of physical activity by family health teams. Brazil should also pursue food reformulation more actively, developing workplace or transport policies, while regulating food and beverage advertising particularly for children.
Also available in: Portuguese
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