Overview
Brazil is the largest healthcare market in Latin America, spending 9.7% of its GDP on healthcare, representing US$135 B. According to the Brazilian Federation of Hospitals (FBH) and the National Confederation of Health (CNSaúde), of Brazil’s 7,309 hospitals, 63% are private. As of 2024, there are 500,253 hospital beds (ANAHP, the Brazilian Association for Private Hospitals), 668 health insurance providers (Agência Nacional de Saúde - ANS), 575,930 physicians (Conselho Federal de Medicina -CFM), 402,000 dentists (Conselho Federal de Odontologia – CFO), and 93,174 drugstores (Associação Brasileira de Distribuição e LogÃstica de Produtos Farmacêuticos - Abradilan).
Brazil’s Unified Healthcare System (SUS) is the sole provider of health services for approximately 72% of the population (164 M people), according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). 51 M Brazilians also have access to the private healthcare system.
In addition to medical diagnostics and treatment, the public system provides free medication for some chronic diseases and promotes national vaccination programs, mostly focused on the elderly and children. It has also played a major role in Covid-19 vaccination programs around the country. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has been regulating and encouraging the expansion at the municipal level of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS), which consists of therapeutic approaches that aim to prevent health problems, promote and recover health, emphasizing listening to the patient, and the construction of therapeutic bonds and the connection between human beings, the environment, and society.
Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) is the counterpart of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and regulates all health-related products. While certain low-risk products may be exempt from registration, it is mandatory to have a local importer or distributor for product liability. It is recommended that foreign companies have technical staff and replacement parts available locally for customer support.
In Brazil, the healthcare market is price-driven, with products that are manufactured in-country having a distinct price advantage. Quality and meeting regulation standards is also important. Companies must meet all sanitary registration requirements to sell to the government. Foreign companies should consider cost-saving measures and actively promote the benefits of new technologies in marketing and promotional materials to compete.
An aging population and poor management of resources in the healthcare sector offer opportunities for U.S. products and service specifically in the areas of assisted living, mental health, rehabilitation, and chronic diseases.
COVID-19 Impact
As of December 2024, Brazil has had more than 39.1 M COVID-19 infections, with more than 714,000 deaths, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health. 98% of the adult population has received at least the first dose of the vaccine and 86% have received two or more doses.
Brazilian public laboratories have partnered with international institutions for the development and testing of vaccines and drugs to combat the pandemic. Universities played a key role in research and development for the development of diagnostic kits, drugs, and vaccines.
By mid-July 2024, credit approvals from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for the Brazilian pharmaceutical and pharma chemical industries reached $270 M, the highest value since 1995.
Pharmaceuticals
By mid-July 2024, credit approvals from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for the Brazilian pharmaceutical and pharma chemical industries reached $270 M, the highest value since 1995. According to IQVIA, Brazil ranks ninth globally for drugs and pharmaceuticals and is the largest in Latin America. In 2023, the pharmaceutical market size grew by 16.4%ls totaling US$35.6 B.
Growth of the Pharmaceuticals Market
Table 1: Total market size of Brazilian pharmaceutical market, including imports in US billions.
Brazil Pharmaceutical Market | 2022 | 2023 | % Variation |
Total Market Size | $30.6 B | $35.6 B | + 16.4% |
Total Imports | $7.1 B | $7.2 B | + 1.2% |
Imports from the US | $793 M | $788 M | - 0.7% |
Source: Sindusfarma, IQVIA, Comexstat
According to Sindusfarma, in 2023, Brazilian imports of medicines and increased by 1.2% totaling US$7.92 B. For high-cost medicines, the United States and Europe are the main exporters to Brazil, while China and India are the main suppliers of raw ingredients. The United States accounts for 11% of all pharmaceutical imports into Brazil. More than 90% of Brazil’s raw ingredients used to manufacture medicines are imported (Ministry of Health). As a result, this group of pharmaceutical products is the sixth most imported item in the country. By 2024, generic drugs account for 38% of the Brazilian market, and biosimilar drugs represent 9.72% (an increase of 1,533% over the past three years). Regulations prohibit the sale of medicine and medical devices outside of specialized medical stores or pharmacies.
Leading Sub-Sectors and Opportunities (Pharmaceuticals)
U.S. companies can be competitive in the Brazilian market when offering high quality, innovative, and cost-competitive products. The leading sub-sectors for pharmaceuticals are:
- Chronic diseases – blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular
- Contraceptives
- Rare Diseases
- Generic Drugs
- Infectious Diseases – HIV and Hepatitis C.
The government of Brazil is the main buyer of medicines to supply the public healthcare system. Foreign companies can participate in bids as long they have local representation. It is also possible to participate in a Productive Development Partnership (PDP). PDPs are designed to allow international companies to partner with local laboratories to supply the public system for a fixed period, usually five years, with a reserved market share and the end-goal of making a technology transfer to a national laboratory during that time enabling the national laboratory to produce the medicine after the fixed period. Companies should be well-informed and fully investigate all terms before committing to a PDP.
In 2024, the pharmaceutical market based on CBD grew 22%, with sales around US$ 26.5M. Brazil only allows the sale of CBD-based products when used for therapeutic purposes, through a doctor’s prescription. Currently, only purified oil and nasal spray forms can be sold.
E-commerce is a growing channel for end-users to acquire imported medicines and other wellness products. To reduce returns, sellers should inform customers that Brazilian Customs charges fees to clear imported goods. In 2024, the Brazilian government approved a law that enables exemption for the import of medicines by individuals. The measure applies to medicines imported by individuals for their use up to the limit of $10,000.
Brazil’s Medical Devices/Health IT
The private health sector usually leads the demand for the latest innovative medical devices. The market size for medical equipment in 2023 was approximately US$ 12.4 B, an increase of 2.4% from 2022. (Source: ABIIS).
Table 2: Total market size of Brazilian medical equipment market, including imports in US billions.
Medical Equipment | 2022 | 2023 | % Variation |
Total Market Size | 12.1 B | 12.4 B | +2.4 |
Total Imports | 6.76 B | 6.3 B | - 6.8 % |
Imports from the US | 1.28 B | 1.2 B | -6.3 % |
The United States represents 19% of imported medical devices in Brazil, followed by Germany with 16%, and China with 11%. Brazil is the 14th largest market for U.S. medical devices and second in Latin America, after Mexico. In 2023, U.S. medical device exports to Brazil reached US$1.2 B.
Table 3: Medical equipment sub-sector imports from U.S. into Brazil in US billions.
Group of Products | 2022 Imports US$ B | 2023 Imports US$ B | % Variation |
Total Medical Devices (ABIIS) | 6.35 B | 6.71 B | 5.7% |
Material and Equipment for Health (ABIMED) | 3.85 B | 3.93 B | 2.1% |
Prosthesis and Implants -OPDE (ABRAIDI) | 1.13 B | 1.20 B | 6.2% |
In Vitro Diagnostic Reagents and equipment (CBDL) | 2.82 B | 3.11 B | 10.3% |
Source: ABIIS
Brazil is part of the Medical Devices Single Audit Program (MDSAP) with the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia for the acceptance of a mutually recognized international audit program performed by a third-party company. This can expedite approval processes for new products in the country, however, ANVISA maintains their fee, in addition to the MDSAP fees.
U.S. companies can be competitive in the Brazilian market when offering high quality, innovative, and cost-competitive products. The following are the leading sub-sectors for medical devices:
Dental Products – implants, equipment, tools, and aligners
Healthcare IT – telemedicine, EMR, interoperability, big data, and AI
Consumables, imaging diagnostic, in vitro diagnostic, and implants
For Healthcare IT, the Ministry of Health announced an investment of US$ 200 M for the digitalization of the public basic healthcare care system (SUS) in 2023. Similar investments are expected in the next few years. The Digital Strategy for Brazil was created by the Ministry of Health to organize and boost the integration of digital solutions and platforms in the public system, with programs that will be announced periodically, over an eight-year period. Among the initiatives, the APS Digital (Digitalization of Primary Care Assistance) has the goal of providing IT equipment and software to run basic care units in 3,613 municipalities across the country (65% of the country’s municipalities).
In 2022, the UBS Digital public program announced a US$ 3 M investment for telemedicine solutions in remote areas for services including cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, and geriatrics. Private hospitals are also investing in technology, and several new hospitals are formalizing their progress by obtaining international certificates for data management and reduction of paper use. In 2024, the Brazilian Ministry of Health announced investments of US$ 84 M in informatics and digital solutions focused on the North and Northeast regions. In Sao Paulo, the state government created the Leading Center for Innovation in Digital Health as one of the initiatives of the Research, Development and Innovation Program in Digital Health (PD&I Saúde Digital), in partnership with Hospital das Clinicas, which is managing this program.
During the pandemic, Brazil temporarily approved the use of telemedicine. The change become permanent in 2022 and digital solutions for healthcare consultation, diagnostics, and treatment are now widely used. In the public sector, TeleSUS has been used for consultation for symptoms of Covid-19. Additionally, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are expected to play a key role in the medical IT field in coming years.
Resources
Ministry of Health and Institutes:
Major healthcare trade shows in Brazil:
The Sao Paulo International Dental Congress (CIOSP): largest dental trade show and forum in Latin America. Sao Paulo, January 22-25, 2025
Hospitalar – The largest medical trade show in Latin America, São Paulo, May 20-23, 2025.
- HIS -The Healthcare Show, the largest event of technology and innovation event for healthcare in Latin America, Sao Paulo, October 1-2, 2025
For more information, please reach out to Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Biotech Sectors Commercial Specialist, Jefferson Oliveira at Jefferson.Oliveira@trade.gov