Brazil proposes new SUS subsystem for chronic disease care

Bill 3141/26 has been introduced in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies to establish a dedicated Subsystem of Integral Assistance for non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) within the Unified Health System (SUS).

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Organic Health Law (Law 8.080/90) to ensure permanent structure, dedicated budgeting, and continuous organization for long-term health conditions. The initiative focuses on providing multidisciplinary care throughout all stages of life, specifically targeting high-mortality conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer.

The bill emphasizes intersectoral actions for diagnosis and treatment, with priority given to vulnerable populations. Notably, the proposal includes provisions to address chronic diseases aggravated by environmental factors and climate change, such as air pollution and extreme temperature or humidity variations.

Proposed by Deputy Pinheirinho (PP-MG), the project aims to integrate health services with sectors like education, social assistance, and the environment. The bill must now undergo analysis by the Health and Constitution, Justice, and Citizenship committees before proceeding to the Senate.