Advances in rheumatology practice in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Brazil's healthcare landscape has evolved, with chronic non-communicable diseases replacing infectious diseases as leading causes of death.
• Despite economic disparities, there's been progress in rheumatological care, including specialist training and national treatment guidelines.
• The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology actively supports medical education and publishes diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the strengths of rheumatological healthcare in Brazil.
• To identify areas for improvement in accessing rheumatological care nationwide.
• To provide an overview of the current state of rheumatology services in Brazil.

Main Methods:

• Review of healthcare improvements over the past 25 years in Brazil.
• Analysis of specialist distribution and training initiatives.
• Assessment of medication access and specialized service availability.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in access to medications, including biologics, free of charge for most patients.
• Enhanced specialized services for autoimmune, rare, pediatric rheumatology, and autoinflammatory diseases in developed regions.
• A notable gap exists in access to non-pharmacological treatment modalities.

Conclusions:

• Brazil has made strides in rheumatological care, particularly in pharmacotherapy and specialized services.
• Addressing the lack of access to non-pharmacological treatments is crucial for comprehensive rheumatological care.
• Continued efforts are needed to ensure equitable distribution of rheumatologists and services across the country.