Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the types and applications of studies conducted by Health Economics Units (NES) within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS), highlighting their role in supporting evidence-based decision making at the local level.
METHODS: This study is based on a national diagnostic conducted in 2025 by the Ministry of Health, covering active NES across the country. A descriptive analysis was performed on reported studies developed by these units, categorizing them according to thematic areas such as cost analysis, health financing, service implementation, and policy support.
RESULTS: The findings demonstrate that NES have produced a wide range of applied economic studies tailored to local health system needs. Cost analysis studies were prominent, including hospital cost assessments, cost of specific services such as home care, and operational costs like hospital meals. Several NES supported infrastructure planning, such as cost estimation for oncology units and maternity complexes, and projections for primary care expansion. At a broader level, states developed macroeconomic analyses using data from health sistems, including financial balance assessments, expenditure composition comparisons, and financing trends. Other NES contributed to strategic decision making through procurement and management analyses, including outsourcing evaluations and systematic use of costing systems.Economic studies were also identified, such as technical support for clinical guidelines and incentive policies, and comparative efficiency analyses of hospital management models. Overall, the results indicate that NES are actively generating evidence across multiple domains, directly influencing planning, budgeting, and policy formulation
CONCLUSIONS: Health Economics Units in Brazil are playing an increasingly role in translating economic evidence into practical management tools within the SUS. Their ability to produce studies supports efficient resource allocation and strengthens governance at the local level. Expanding and consolidating these units may enhance the use of economic evidence in health systems, particularly in low and middle income settings seeking to improve performance through decentralized analytical capacity.