Health conditions and health-policy innovations in Brazil: The way forward

Cesar G. Victora, Mauricio L. Barreto, Maria Do Carmo Leal, Carlos A. Monteiro, Maria Ines Schmidt, Jairnilson Paim, Francisco I. Bastos, Celia Almeida, Ligia Bahia, Claudia Travassos, Michael Reichenheim, Fernando C. Barros

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

274 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brazil is a large complex country that is undergoing rapid economic, social, and environmental change. In this Series of six articles, we have reported important improvements in health status and life expectancy, which can be ascribed largely to progress in social determinants of health and to implementation of a comprehensive national health system with strong social participation. Many challenges remain, however. Socioeconomic and regional disparities are still unacceptably large, reflecting the fact that much progress is still needed to improve basic living conditions for a large proportion of the population. New health problems arise as a result of urbanisation and social and environmental change, and some old health issues remain unabated. Administration of a complex, decentralised public-health system, in which a large share of services is contracted out to the private sector, together with many private insurance providers, inevitably causes conflict and contradiction. The challenge is ultimately political, and we conclude with a call for action that requires continuous engagement by Brazilian society as a whole in securing the right to health for all Brazilian people.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2042-2053
Number of pages12
JournalThe Lancet
Volume377
Issue number9782
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 11 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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