In Brazil, healthcare is a right that all nationals, citizens and permanent residents are entitled to. Primary healthcare overall is the responsibility of the government, but many elements of the day-to-day running of public hospitals and medical facilities are down to the individual states that make up the country. This can lead to inconsistency in … Read more

In Brazilian law, “medication” is defined as a pharmaceutical product obtained or enhanced technically, with curative, palliative, or diagnostic purposes. It is common to see an overlap in the meaning of the term “drug” in Brazil, which is often associated with negative connotations, such as illegal recreational drugs. The legal definition of medicine and medication … Read more

Brazil has the highest elective Caesarean birth rate in the world, with over 50% of all births being delivered in this way. Nearly 90% of Caesarean births are conducted in private hospitals, a number five times higher than that recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). C-sections are often encouraged by doctors, both for practical … Read more

Healthcare in Brazil is provided by both private and government institutions, and is considered a constitutional right. All Brazilian nationals and permanent residents are entitled to free public healthcare. Public healthcare in Brazil is provided by the National Healthcare System, also known as the Unified Health System. In Portuguese, it is called Sistema Único de … Read more

Although healthcare itself is free in Brazil, including for foreigners, supplementing this with private health insurance is highly advisable. This is because the public healthcare system is under strain, meaning you could face long waiting times, poorer quality of care, and a lack of specialist medical assistance. Occasionally, it may be a prerequisite that you … Read more

In 2014, Brazil’s Ministry of Health released new dietary guidelines, in an attempt to combat the growing number of overweight and obese people. The government’s guidelines now tend to be less focused around calorie restriction and portion-sizes, and instead reflect the importance of cooking with fresh ingredients, eating together, and avoiding fast food and calorie-laden … Read more

Despite the fact that Brazil has a free universal health system in place, there are some instances in which you may find yourself needing to pay for appointments and exams. Brazil’s Unified Health System Sistema Único de Saúde (a.k.a. SUS) was drafted into the 1988 constitution. The system was designed to supply the demand of … Read more

Having the perfect smile is very important to Brazilians. Cosmetic procedures tend to be in high demand, as well as very lucrative. Day-to-day oral and dental hygiene are considered of paramount importance to a large portion of the population. In some restaurants, cafes and public restrooms, you may even see mouthwash and floss, alongside the … Read more

The Zika virus has been in and out of the news over the last several months, with the World Health Organization (WHO) issuing alerts of potential outbreaks across several South American countries. There is evidence of the virus in 18 countries and regions in Latin American and Caribbean territories.The Aedes mosquito, the carrier of the … Read more

Brazil has good medical care, especially in the larger cities, where most expats live. Healthcare may be slightly expensive and it is advisable to take out comprehensive health insurance cover upon arrival in the country. Pharmacies are located throughout Brazil and every pharmacy has a licensed pharmacist. Although Brazil is mostly safe for expats and … Read more