Brasília – The Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) reported that the expansion of parliamentary amendments has significantly transformed the financing profile of Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS). The findings were presented on November 19 during a seminar organized in partnership with the Federal Prosecution Service (MPF) and show that, between 2014 and 2024, the total volume of amendments grew 321%, while resources directed to the Ministry of Health increased 383%. In 2024, parliamentary amendments allocated to health reached R$ 45.8 billion.

According to Ipea, this movement altered the structure of federal health spending, with amendments representing 45.4% of the Ministry of Health’s discretionary budget. Of these resources, 92% were directed to operating expenses rather than infrastructure investment. The primary care financing floor (PPS) also saw a sharp increase: funding via amendments rose 387% over ten years, totaling R$ 24.8 billion in 2024. The North and Northeast received around 52% of the funds, although Ipea notes that this distribution does not necessarily align with regional health needs.

The institution warned that the growing dependence on amendments may compromise planning and coordination within the SUS, as allocations often respond to individual parliamentary initiatives rather than broader criteria of equity and efficiency.

Source: Ipea

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