Brazil expands SUS telehealth for gambling addiction to 100,000 monthly sessions

The Brazilian Ministry of Health announced that the Unified Health System (SUS) will increase its mental‑health teleconsultation capacity to up to 100,000 appointments per month for people struggling with gambling and betting problems. The service is accessed through the Meu SUS Digital app using a Gov.br account, includes an auto‑test screening, and provides 50‑minute video consultations for patients and their families. Users can be referred to in‑person SUS care if needed, and the platform also supports the government’s auto‑exclusion tool that blocks CPF use on regulated betting sites.

The program, launched in March with a pilot capacity of about 600 monthly sessions, is run in partnership with the Hospital Sírio‑Libanês and the Agência Brasileira de Apoio à Gestão do SUS (AgSUS). Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha highlighted the expansion as a way to reduce stigma and make help more accessible for those who may avoid face‑to‑face care.