The Brazilian Healthcare System Healthcare in Brazil became an important issue between the years 1985-1988 (Nascimento, 2013). Citizens noted that there was a large gap between health services provided to the wealthy and services provided to the rest of the population. Health care in Brazil became a right for all citizens in 1988 and the Sistema Unico de Saude-SUS (Unified Health Care System) was established (Nascimento, 2013). Citizens can purchase private insurance provided they can afford it. The Brazilian healthcare system is funded by the government through social security, taxes and government employees. This system was established during a period in the nation's history that was politically and economically unstable. The Family Health Program was established in 1994 (Nascimento, 2013). Preventative care is the main focus of this program. The government establishes government-funded community health centers. Nurses, primary care physicians and physician assistants. The program is praised for being efficient. The program solves 85% of health-related problems (Nascimento, 2013). Cost, quality and access to care still remain a challenge for the Brazilian healthcare system. Although improvements have been made, the impact on the health of women, mothers and children, on the elderly and the increase in cases of many non-communicable diseases creates many inequalities. Cost of Healthcare Brazil does not have the financial resources to make healthcare a constitutional right for all citizens, as it is intended. Funding is not distributed equally between regions. In 2009, Brazil invested US$921.00, compared to a total of US$7,960.00 invested in the United States in the same year. (WHO, 2012). As well as......middle of paper.......Imperfect but right: Brazil's healthcare system targets the poor. 86, (4), 241-320.Macinko, J., & Lima-Costa, M. (2012). Horizontal equity in health care utilization in Brazil, 1998-2008. International Journal for Health Equity, 11(1), 33-40. doi:10.1186/1475-9276-11-33Nascimento, J. (2013). Health systems in Brazil and the United States: a comparative analysis. Retrieved from: http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/etdSchmidt, M., Bartholow, D., Azevedo de Silva, G., Menezes, A.M., Monteiro, C.A. Barreto SM, Coro, D. Menezes, PR (2011). Chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil: current burdens and challenges. The Lancet. 377(9781), 1949-1961. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60135-9Victoria, C., Aquino, E. Carmo Leal, M. Augusto Monteiro, C., Barros FC & Szwarcwald, C. (2011) The Lancet 377, (97800), Pages 1863-1876. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60138-4