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Brazil SUS pharmaceutical expansion

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2026-09-01 01:36 UTC → 2026-09-08 09:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) is expanding its pharmaceutical offerings through new investments and specialized programs. In late August, the Tripartite Inter-Agency Commission (CIT) approved an expansion to include subcutaneous infliximab for patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. This R$ 59.1 million investment aims to benefit over 13,500 people by allowing for home administration, reducing the need for hospital visits. The decision also established new responsibilities for treating non-infectious uveitis, ANCA-associated vasculitis, advanced chronic kidney disease, and mercury poisoning. Starting in October 2026, the Ministry of Health will incorporate three high-technology medications for lung cancer treatment into SUS: brigatinib, gefitinib, and durvalumab. Brigatinib and gefitinib are oral targeted therapies that act on specific cancer cell alterations and can be administered at home with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. Durvalumab is an immunotherapy indicated for stage III lung cancer patients who are ineligible for surgery. The Ministry noted that these treatments have demonstrated improvements in overall patient survival. To support this expansion, the Ministry of Health has finalized the regulations for the Oncology Pharmaceutical Assistance (AF-Onco) component. This regulatory framework establishes new standards for the management, acquisition, and distribution of oncology drugs, coordinating efforts between federal, state, and municipal governments to align with the National Cancer Prevention and Control Policy. These treatments will be fully funded via the ~~Oncology Pharmaceutical Assistance (AF-Onco)~~ AF-Onco program. While these specific medications are expected to benefit approximately 1,900 patients, the broader AF-Onco initiative aims to increase the availability of high-cost oncology treatments in the public network by 35%, with an estimated annual budget of R$ 2.1 billion reaching over 100,000 people through the provision of 23 high-cost oncological drugs. ~~In the private sector, these specific lung cancer drugs can cost up to R$ 643,000 annually.~~

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