The effects of Constitutional Amendment 29 on the regional allocation of public funds for the National Health Service in Brazil

This article analyzes the effects of Constitutional Amendment 29 in financing the Brazilian National Health Service, SUS, between 2000 and 2010. The aim was to analyze how the resources that were allocated by the three spheres of government were used on a general basis and in specific regions. Analysis was also conducted on the possible repercussions of the Amendment in the allocation of finances for SUS. The results showed: an important increase in the designated resources that were used by the three spheres of government during the aforementioned period. There was an increase in real terms of 112% in consolidated spending and an 89% increase in spending per capita by the three spheres. There was also more participation from the States, the Federal District and the Municipalities in financing the system. However, in spite of the increase in the use of financial resources, regional inequalities, in relation to spending per capita, remained practically unchanged.