History of the implementation of public health emergency management in Brazil

Abstract

Public health emergencies can cause significant social, economic and health impacts. To mitigate these effects, approaches and programs at national and global levels have been developed, focusing on preparedness, surveillance and response, especially for emergencies of international concern (1). As a Member State of the World Health Organization and signatory of its agreements and conventions, Brazil is committed to ensuring the execution of health actions with a focus on public health emergencies. Despite successful experiences in emergency management, this is still an emerging field, with limited scientific production. This article describes the history of public health emergency management at the federal level and its strategies for preparing, surveillance and responding to these events in the Brazilian National Health System.