Brazil's SUS faces record lawsuits amid chronic health system delays

Around 160 million Brazilians rely exclusively on the public Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), which is plagued by chronic under‑funding and long waiting lists. Average wait times now reach eight years for elective surgery, eight months for diagnostic exams and up to 60 days for specialist consultations, jeopardising timely treatment for many patients.

In 2024 more than 400 000 legal actions were filed against the SUS, while about 300 000 lawsuits targeted private health insurers for denied coverage. Private insurers posted a net profit of R$ 11 billion in 2024—a 429 % increase from the previous year—and projected profits of R$ 24.4 billion for 2025. The surge in litigation, known as judicialisation, is described as a symptom of the health system’s inability to meet basic care needs, forcing patients to turn to the courts to obtain exams, medicines, surgeries or hospital admissions.