Brasil has approved a national policy for health information and digital transformation, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country’s public health system. The National Policy on Information and Digital Health (PNISD) was established through Ministerial Order GM/MS 12.301/2026, published on October 28. The policy aims to place the citizen at the center of care and seeks to unify patient medical records, increasing the Unified Health System’s (SUS) capacity to offer telehealth services.
Applying to all levels of health management
The order applies to all SUS management bodies, including the Ministry of Health, state, and municipal health secretariats. It also covers public and private health service providers, technology providers, health professionals, and health councils. The PNISD establishes a framework for digital transformation focused on strengthening care networks and health surveillance while improving management.
Health education must incorporate digital skills for SUS workers, managers, and council members. The policy also mandates digital literacy programs for the general population to ensure they can effectively use the new digital tools.
Principles established in Article 2 of the PNISD will guide the development and use of digital technologies within the system. Information and digital health are now considered structural elements of SUS, essential for achieving constitutional goals of universality, integrity, and equity.
Centralizing the user in health actions and services is a core principle. This focus must be considered when developing, analyzing, and evaluating new technologies being incorporated into the system.
Protecting health data is a major focus. The policy classifies health data as “institutional strategic assets” within SUS. Other associated principles include guaranteeing data quality and integrity, as well as informational self-determination, which gives patients the right to decide how their personal information is handled.
The document states that health data must be treated ethically, without discrimination, inclusively, responsibly, and equitably. To safeguard this right, the PNISD ensures that data holders have facilitated access to their health information processed by the system.
Digital information security is also a guiding principle. The transformation of the Brazilian health system must prioritize the security of information and the infrastructure that supports it. This security must be sufficient to guarantee the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and authenticity of health data stored on digital platforms.
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Another guiding principle is digital sovereignty. This is defined as the State’s ability to maintain governance and control over data, systems, and strategic health services within the country. The text notes this is a limited concept, allowing for the possibility that data storage might not necessarily be within Brazil, provided the State maintains governance through contracts.
One objective is to consolidate federative, participatory, and institutional governance for digital health actions. The policy also aims to expand the integration and interoperability of health information systems, both public and private, across different levels of care and between federal entities.
Equity is another key goal. The policy seeks to expand and qualify technological infrastructure and health connectivity with priority for regions and municipalities with lower digital access. This aims to improve access for vulnerable, geographically isolated populations, and indigenous groups facing health inequalities.
Another equity objective involves expanding digital literacy for users, professionals, and managers. The policy also aims to promote the expansion and qualification of technological infrastructure and connectivity in health.
Implementation and Governance Structures
The coordination of the PNISD falls under the Ministry of Health. This is managed by the Digital Health Information Secretariat. Operational, financial, and administrative aspects of shared SUS management will be handled by the Intergestors Tripartite Commission. Territorial adaptation of the policy will occur through the Intergestors Bipartite Commissions or, where applicable, Regional Intergestors Commissions.
Several bodies serve as strategic governance organs for the policy. These include the Health Councils. A Digital Health Management Committee acts as an advisory body to the Intergestors Tripartite Commission. It supports implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The Digital Governance Committee of the Ministry of Health evaluates and prioritizes federal Information and Communication Technology strategies needed for the PNISD.
A Digital Health Innovation Executive Group will be created. This group will facilitate dialogue with the digital health innovation ecosystem. It will engage the academic community and public and private actors. The goal is to align the SUS digital transformation agenda with national industry development and research. This supports the goals of digital sovereignty in health.
The policy outlines rules for implementation, funding, and monitoring. The publication represents a significant advance in the transformation of the Brazilian health system.
