Challenges and opportunities in the Brazilian Unified Health System: Pathways to sustainability and equity

The Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), established in 1988, aims to provide universal and equitable healthcare access. Despite notable achievements, SUS faces significant challenges, including insufficient funding, inefficiencies, and regional disparities in healthcare quality.

A literature review.

We reviewed literature from the past five years on SUS's performance, focusing on funding, governance, healthcare quality, and digital technology integration.

Urban areas generally receive better healthcare services than rural regions, highlighting substantial disparities. The decentralized governance structure of SUS, involving federal, state, and municipal levels, supports the Family Health Strategy (ESF), which covers 60 % of the population and focuses on prevention and health promotion. Funding constraints have worsened since 2016, leading to resource reductions. Inefficiencies, exacerbated by competition between public and private sectors, result in long waiting times, bed shortages, and a lack of qualified health professionals. While digital transformation driven by public policies could improve service efficiency and accessibility, ensuring digital inclusion is vital for equitable benefits. Social participation is essential for transparency and effective management but is challenged by resource constraints and the need for more decisive social control mechanisms.

Future efforts should increase public resources for SUS, address regional inequalities, and integrate digital technologies. Strengthening social participation and reinforcing Brazil's global health leadership is also crucial. After 35 years, SUS remains essential for social inclusion and reducing inequalities, underscoring health as a key investment for equity and population well-being.