Should Brazil unify its public and private health systems?

On April 22, the Brazilian Health Council recommended that federal, state, and municipal governments step up to coordinate the allocation of privately-held resources — including hospital beds — during the Covid-19 pandemic. The council voiced concern that, if the public healthcare system collapses, the unequal access to private intensive care beds “will be an obstacle to the reduction of the lethality rate during the pandemic,” and people that could be saved will end up dying.

Linked to the Health Ministry, the council includes representatives from the government, civil society organizations, and healthcare workers. It is one of the most influential agencies regarding the regulation of Brazil’s public healthcare system.

According to official data cited in the council’s recommendation, there are currently 14,876 intensive care beds on the public health system, while another 15,898 beds are located in private hospitals. In other words, 52 percent of hospital beds are only available to the 22 percent of Brazilians covered by private health insurance.

In per capita terms, a study published in March by researchers at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation showed that there were 13.6 public intensive care hospital beds for every 100,000 Brazilians last year. On the private system, there were 62.6 intensive care hospital beds for every 100,000 citizens with health insurance.

The council’s recommendation highlights that private hospitals in France, Italy,...