BRAZIL
The healthcare system in Brazil is made up of both private and government institutions. The Brazilian public healthcare system is known as the “United Health System” or SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde.) and healthcare is a constitutional right. Prior to reforms in 1988, only citizens who contributed to the social security system were able to receive public healthcare services. Today, the SUS is free and universal to all. Brazilians are understandably proud of their healthcare system. By several measures, the SUS is the largest government-run and publically administered healthcare system in the world. It has more users, covers more geographic territory in terms of continuous landmass, and has more clinics and treatment centers than any other similar system in the world. Considering the sheer size of its operations, the SUS performs admirably but it still struggles with significant challenges.