ARE THE SUS AND THE RIGHT TO HEALTH INCOMPATIBLE WITH UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE? Challenging Misconceptions Around the Concept of UHC in the Public Health Scholarship in Brazil

O SUS e o direito à saúde são incompatíveis com a cobertura universal de saúde? Críticas e equívocos a respeito da UHC na literatura em saúde pública no Brasil

ABSTRACT

The literature on public health in Brazil has criticized the idea of universal health coverage (UHC), arguing that UHC is incompatible with the universal health system and the right to health. This article assesses that criticism and concludes that it creates a “strawman” argument. The idea of UHC that is being criticized in Brazil bears little similarity to the concept of UHC promoted by international organizations and discussed in the international literature.

KEYWORDS:
Universal health coverage (UHC); right to health; universal health systems; United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDG); Brazil