Brazil: Sírio-Libanês & Health Ministry launch gambling telehealth
The Brazilian government has launched an unprecedented strategy to address the growing challenge of gambling addiction and digital betting. In a strategic collaboration with the prestigious Hospital Sírio-Libanês, the Ministry of Health on Tuesday introduced a free telehealth service directly integrated into the public system's technological infrastructure via the Meu SUS Digital application. With an initial investment of R$2.5 million, approximately US$480,000, the initiative aims to provide clinical refuge and specialized support to citizens facing gambling-related disorders, a phenomenon that has reached a worrying scale in the country's social fabric.
How the care protocol operates in the digital ecosystem
Access to this new therapeutic front has been designed with an intelligent triage logic that prioritizes agility and scientific evidence. To begin the process, users must access the application through their official gov.br account and navigate to the "Miniapps" section, where they will find the specific option titled "Problems with gambling?". Once inside, the system applies an expert-validated self-test that immediately classifies the user's risk level. Cases detected under a moderate or severe risk category are automatically directed to a direct care phase, which consists of video calls with multidisciplinary teams comprising psychologists and occupational therapists.
A structured treatment cycle for patient recovery
The operational capacity of this program has been scaled to handle approximately 600 consultations per month in its initial phase, ensuring high-quality care and continuous monitoring. The clinical protocol is not limited to an isolated intervention but includes treatment cycles that can extend up to 13 sessions of 45 minutes each, which can be conducted individually or in groups depending on the case's needs. The entire process is protected by strict confidentiality criteria, and in situations that require it, the system guarantees the necessary psychiatric support, integrating digital health with the specialized resources of Hospital Sírio-Libanês and the SUS network.
Telemedicine as a strategy to overcome social stigma
One of the fundamental pillars of this measure is technology's ability to break down barriers of social judgment. According to Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, telemedicine is the ideal tool to reach patients who, due to shame or fear of family stigma, avoid attending physical health centers. Official statistics support this view: while millions of people are estimated to suffer the consequences of digital gambling addiction, the public network recorded only 6,157 in-person consultations last year. The digital environment offers a more private space that can reduce the gap between the addicted individual and professional treatment, allowing the patient to begin their recovery from a safe environment.
Integration with the Federal Government's responsible gambling policies
This launch is not an isolated action but rather part of a much more robust governmental package aimed at regulation and social protection in the iGaming sector. The telehealth service is complemented by existing tools such as the Centralized Self-Exclusion Platform, which allows users to voluntarily block their own access to betting sites. By combining tax oversight, access control, and now specialized clinical support, the Brazilian state seeks to build an ecosystem where the formalization of the betting market does not come at the expense of the population's mental health, reaffirming its commitment to a regulated industry based on ethical and human principles.
Tags: Brazil, My Digital SUS, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, problem gambling treatment, gambling treatment center