Health System Reform in Brazil: the Creation of the Brazilian Unified Health System

Health is human rights, the state's responsibility. Thus, the Brazilian Constitution in 1988 fundamentally changed the Brazilian public health system. This constitutional right brought about the establishment of a unified health system (Sistema Únicode Saúde - SUS) which directly or indirectly serves 200 million Brazilians. However, if decades of struggle and social movements allow for reform of the national health system, they can only gain universal health rights.

The Brazilian Public Health System Integrated Health System (SUS) is managed and provided by all levels of government and is the world's largest such system. On the other hand, the private medical system plays a complementary role. Public health services are universal and are available for free to all citizens of the country. However, the construction and maintenance of health centers and hospitals is covered by taxes, accounting for about 9% of GDP out of the region's expenditure. In 2012, Brazil had 1.85 doctors and 2.3 beds per 1,000 inhabitants

The important difference between Brazil and the United States is the public health system. The Brazilian public health system is the National Health System (SUS) and the US public health system is governed and provided by the government. They all have private medical systems that can play a supplementary role. Brazil's public health services are universal and free to all citizens of the country. In the United States, the public health system is a government program targeting a small number of people, such as the elderly, disabled, children, veterans, and some poor people. Regardless of payment capacity, federal law requires the public to provide emergency services. So this is a small difference between Brazilian and American healthcare systems.

The Brazilian medical system consists of three alliances: the federal government, the state government, and the local government. The unified medical system is based on the principle that health is a right and a national responsibility. It is based on universal coverage, attention and equity, and protects the majority of the population. The health care system in Brazil is not necessarily smooth. Problems such as high cost, shortage, resources, etc. plague the system. (Celia R. P. and Ana C. P. G., Human Resources for Health Systems and Decentralization Policy in Brazil, Human Resources for Health, 9 (12) (2011)