Distributive justice and equity in resource allocation: a temporal analysis of hospitalization costs in indigenous populations in Brazil

Abstract

IntroductionIn Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, the health needs of each region have an impact. In this context and the name of the principle of equity, the SUS organizes actions especially aimed at social groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and indigenous peoples. The concept of justice proposed by John Rawls is one of equity, which is essential to this country.MethodsThis is an ecological, descriptive study, which analyzed hospital spending on cardiovascular diseases in the Unified Health System (SUS) among the indigenous elderly population and other ethnicities/colors in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019.ResultsHospitalization costs and fatality rates for indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities, between 2010 and 2019, were evaluated. A reduction in hospitalization costs for the indigenous population and an increase in other populations was observed throughout the historical series, while there was an increase in fatality rates for both groups. A comparison was made between hospitalization costs and the fatality rates of indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities according to sex, between 2010 and 2019. It was observed that regardless of sex, there are significant differences (p<0.05) between hospitalization costs and fatality rates, with higher costs for patients of other colors/ethnicities and higher fatality rates for the indigenous population.ConclusionsHospitalization costs due to cardiovascular diseases in elderly people from indigenous populations were lower compared to other ethnicities in most federative units, which may suggest an unequal allocation of resources or access for this indigenous population to the SUS. Although there is no strong correlation between spending on hospital admissions and fatality rates, it was found that these rates increased between 2010 and 2019, while spending was reduced.