Brazil study finds free bus fare could improve health access

A policy study by researchers at the University of Brasília (UnB) analyzes how eliminating bus fares would affect access to health services in Brazil’s Federal District. The paper, titled “Who can circulate? Zero fare, mobility and racial inequalities in access to the city and services,” documents that high ticket prices and unreliable public transport force commuters such as Núbia Sales Veras, a 52‑year‑old auxiliary worker, to miss appointments for chronic conditions like fibromyalgia.

The researchers link long travel times and overcrowded buses to heightened stress, anxiety and depression, and highlight that Black residents—who are over‑represented among low‑income commuters—face a double risk of maternal mortality compared with white women. The study concludes that a universal zero‑fare system could remove a major economic barrier, reduce health disparities and improve preventive care for vulnerable populations.