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)

 O Perfil do Sistema de Serviços de Saúde Brasil
(Portuguese Version)

This third edition of the Health System Profile of Brazil was prepared by a work team that included representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Council of State Health Secretaries (CONASS), the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (CONASEMS), the Applied Economic Research Institute (IPEA), the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the PAHO/WHO Office in Brazil. The responsibility for the final review and editing of the document corresponded to the Area of Health Systems and Services (HSS) of PAHO/WHO Washington, D.C.

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Brazil Country Profile - Health in the Americas, 2007
Link to Brazil Ministry of Health
Link to PAHO/WHO country office in Brazil