Brazil's SUS reports increase in breast reconstruction surgeries

Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) has reached a milestone where the number of breast reconstruction surgeries performed has exceeded the number of mastectomies for the first time, according to Health Minister Alexandre Padilha. This shift is attributed to increased reimbursement rates for reconstructive procedures under the ‘Agora Tem Especialistas’ program, which aims to reduce waiting lists for women following partial or total breast removal.

Despite this recent progress, historical data from 2014 to 2024 indicates significant gaps in access. Analysis of SUS data shows that only 17% of patients treated in the public network received reconstructive surgery during that decade, with the Brazilian Society of Mastology estimating that approximately 80% of women operated on by the public system remain without the procedure.

To address these disparities, a recent ministerial ordinance has included unilateral breast reconstruction in the system's official table, with an estimated annual resource of R$ 37.1 million allocated for reconstructive plastic surgeries. This includes a projected financial impact of R$ 21.6 million for the latter half of 2026.