Philanthropic hospitals provide critical support to Brazil's SUS

During the II Health Forum of the Association of Private Philanthropic Hospitals (Ahfip) in São Paulo, Adriano Massuda, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Health, highlighted the strategic role of philanthropic hospitals within Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS).

There are currently 1,525 philanthropic hospitals in the country, spanning 1,145 municipalities and providing over 164,000 beds, of which 120,936 are dedicated to the SUS. These institutions are vital for territorial decentralization, particularly in rural areas, preventing the need for patients to travel to major urban centers for care.

Philanthropic institutions account for more than 40% of total hospital production in the SUS. For high-complexity procedures, such as transplants and cardiac surgeries, these hospitals represent up to 70% of Brazil's health production. The network serves as a reference in oncology, cardiology, intensive care, and maternal-infant assistance.