THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF RADIOLOGY IN BRAZILIAN PUBLIC HEALTH (2005–2025): BETWEEN INNOVATIONS, SOCIAL IMPACTS AND CONSOLIDATION DIFFICULTIES

Abstract

Radiology is a field that has undergone intense and significant transformations in the healthcare sector in Brazil between 2005 and 2025, having established itself as an essential component of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. In this context, the present study focuses on analyzing the historical role of radiology in the development of public health in Brazil over the past two decades. The central issue investigates how the development of radiology contributes to the consolidation of healthcare services in the country and occasionally led to the undervaluation of professionals in the field. The main objective is to understand how this consolidation occurred during the proposed period, based on three specific objectives: contextualizing the technological advances that took place in the field, understanding how public policies and access via the Unified Health System (SUS) function, and relating the social and technical impacts resulting from this process to the current state of the profession. The methodology used is bibliographic and documentary research with a qualitative approach, based on the analysis of scientific articles, DATASUS data, ANVISA regulations, and official documents from the Ministry of Health. As an expected outcome, it aims to demonstrate how radiology has been established as a strategic pillar of public health, contributing to improvements in diagnosis, the structure of services, and the training of qualified professionals.