# Permanent health education for health economics in Brazil: a forgotten facet?

## TL;DR

The paper explores the lack of Permanent Health Education in Health Economics in Brazil and suggests ways to improve it using government policies and technology.

## Contribution

It highlights the absence of structured PHE in Health Economics in Brazil and proposes leveraging technology for improvement.

## Key findings

- Brazil lacks programmatic and budgetary guidelines for PHE in Health Economics.
- International comparisons show institutionalized training improves efficiency and equity in health systems.
- Technological platforms like AVASUS and Brazil Telehealth Program could support PHE expansion.

## Abstract

This article analyzes the presence and induction of Permanent Health Education (PHE) in Health Economics (HE) within the official documents of the Department of Health Economics and Development (DESID) of Brazil’s Ministry of Health (MoH).

This is an exploratory and descriptive qualitative study, grounded in the document analysis of 126 records categorized according to the elements proposed by Williams and content analysis based on Bardin’s method (2016).

The findings revealed a lack of programmatic, budgetary, and strategic guidelines specifically aimed at PHE in Health Economics, as well as a restricted provision of specialized courses and limited integration with public health management policies. Comparative analysis with international experiences, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, and South Africa, demonstrates that the institutionalization of HE training fosters greater efficiency, equity, sustainability, and rationality in the use of public resources. The findings suggest that continuous technical qualification in this field constitutes an essential component for strengthening Brazil’s National Health System (SUS).

In this context, there is a clear need for the formulation of government policies that stimulate, incentivize, and expand PHE in Health Economics, leveraging the potential of technological platforms such as AVASUS and the Brazil Telehealth Program, both of which possess significant reach, adherence, and engagement across the national territory.