In 2025, São Paulo state witnessed a 30% increase in breast surgeries, compared to 2022, with a total of 3,759 procedures performed, as reported by the state Secretary of Health. The government of Tarcísio de Freitas attributes this rise to the establishment of the São Paulo SUS table in 2023, which aimed to address funding issues and the inadequacy of federal reimbursements for medical services. As part of the changes, the government has transferred R$ 9 million to philanthropic hospitals and Santas Casas, which provide half of the SUS treatments in the region.

According to Danuso Diniz, the administrator of the Santa Casa de Rio Claro, the new funding has considerably improved hospital operations, allowing for the establishment of a new oncology unit and the planned addition of 10 ICU beds. Previously, the hospital faced a significant deficit due to the outdated federal SUS table, which amounted to R$ 20 million annually. The state health secretary emphasized that this increase in funding and improved reimbursement rates have enhanced elective surgeries across various medical fields.

The implications of these changes are significant. By improving access to surgery and increasing healthcare investments, the Tarcísio government aims to tackle previously detrimental limitations within the public health system. This could potentially lead to better health outcomes for patients while reducing the backlog of elective procedures that have been acute in recent years, particularly in light of the complexities introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic.