As part of presenting its 2025 consolidated results, Afya, the Brazilian higher education group for medical and health education, which is part of Bertelsmann Education Group, recently also highlighted progress in its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives. The results impressively demonstrate the positive impact these initiatives have on the Brazilian healthcare system.
Consultations in economically weaker regions
Throughout last year, Afya provided 897,793 free clinical consultations – a figure 10% higher than the 2024 total – at its own clinics, facilities funded by Brazil’s public healthcare system (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS), and via telemedicine, with the annual data validated by a more accurate, evidence-based methodology. 63% of clinical consultations took place in the North and Northeast regions, the economically weaker and less developed regions of this vast country. More than 65,000 specialized consultations were provided at medical postgraduate training centers, reinforcing the direct contribution to the Brazilian healthcare system.
Afya also made progress in its medical training mission in Brazil: 3,340 new physicians completed the program in 2025, with 66% in regions historically characterized by the lowest physician-to-population ratio, according to the company. At the same time, Afya maintained an extensive network of cooperation with hospitals, clinics, and municipal governments, ending the year with 596 active partnerships.
For Gustavo Meirelles, Afya’s Medical Vice President, these partnerships serve as a strategic link between education and patient care, benefiting both the patients we serve and future healthcare professionals. “These collaborations play a fundamental role both in expanding the scope of Afya’s healthcare services and in enhancing the quality of medical education, providing real-world practice settings for medical students with diverse experiences, exposure to varying levels of clinical complexity, and a more comprehensive education aligned with the needs of the SUS”.
Heading toward 5 million free consultations
In September 2024, Afya committed to providing an additional 5 million free healthcare consultations by 2030, in addition to the 2 million already provided between 2019 and 2023. The goal for the second year of the commitment was 100% achieved and exceeded by more than 180,000 consultations. Considering the two-year total, Afya has already met 34% of the goal by the end of 2025, according to the company.
