Brazil
In 1988, the right to healthcare was added to the Federal Constitution of Brazil, ensuring all Brazilian citizens and permanent residents free access to medical services. The national public health system, known as the Unified Health System (SUS) is responsible for delivering these services to the public, and this system covers the cost of everything from prescription drugs, to emergency services, to emergency care and hospitalization. For those who can afford it, there are also private institutions, where the cost is government-subsidized. Private sector healthcare, offered either by insurance companies or employers, is also available. In general, the private system is believed to be better than the public system, as wait times are shorter and higher quality care.
Healthcare Spending
Healthcare spending in Brazil is quite low. Of the national GDP, 9.3% is spent on healthcare expenditures. In 2012, this amounted to $1,109 USD per person. Brazil is ranked 47th in the world when it comes to healthcare spending. Within the Americas region, Brazil is well below the average amount spent per year, which is over $3,500 USD. However, when compared to proximate countries, such as Chile and Argentina, Brazil’s healthcare spending is only slightly lower.
Availability of Care
Brazil suffers from a shortage of doctors, with only 1.89 physicians per every one thousand citizens. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average number of doctors across the Americas region is 2.08 per one thousand people. However, this number also represents too few doctors. With respect to nurses and midwives, the status in Brazil is considerably better. There are 7.6 nurses and/or midwives for every one thousand people. This number is well above the regional average of 4.58 nurses and midwives per one thousand people.
Life Expectancy & Mortality
Life expectancy in Brazil is very low. On average, a child born in 2014 can expect to live for 73.28 years. The figure is much higher for females, who live, on average, until the age of 77. Males can expect to live for 69.73 years, on average. Brazil ranks 126th among the 223 countries in the world on life expectancy. This is much lower than similar countries, such as Argentina and Chile, which rank 66th and 52nd, respectively. Healthcare is thought to play a role in these figures.
Other Issues
Although Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) was highly praised when it was introduced in 1989, it has since faced difficulties in acquiring the funding to provide adequate healthcare services. There are large gaps in quality of service between Brazilian states, since the program is funded in part by the federal government and in part by state governments. Unfortunately, the poorer states in Brazil cannot afford to pay to improve services. That means that in order to access care, citizens may have to pay out of pocket or suffer long wait times or accessibility issues, such as traveling far to reach a hospital. As it stands, it is estimated that 60% of all Brazilians pay for private healthcare. The rest are too poor to afford it.