Sistema Único de Saúde

The Sistema Único de Saúde (Portuguese pronunciation: [sisˈtemɐ ˈuniku dʒi saˈudʒi], Unified Health System), better known by the acronym SUS, is Brazil's publicly funded health care system. Created in 1990, the SUS is the largest government-run public health care system in the world, by number of beneficiaries/users (virtually 100% of the Brazilian population; 220 million people), land area coverage (3.3 million square miles), and affiliated network/number of treatment centers (over 50,000 clinics). The system is entirely free of any cost at the point of service for any person, including foreigners.

The SUS provides services ranging from primary care to complex procedures and offers emergency care for people who suffer accidents through the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU). The Brazilian health system also provides free vaccines and medicines for people with various diseases (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, HIV and Alzheimer's), funds research in the area of epidemiology and monitors the quality of food offered in commercial establishments through the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).