EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY AS A RIGHT TO HEALTH AND INCLUSION IN THE UNIFIED HEALTH SYSTEM (SUS): REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS, STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES, AND THE REALIZATION OF COMPREHENSIVE CARE
Abstract
Equine-assisted therapy (Hippotherapy), regulated in Brazil by Law No. 13,830/2019, is an interdisciplinary therapeutic method that utilizes the horse for biopsychosocial development. Despite its proven efficacy, its integration into the Unified Health System (SUS) still faces normative and structural challenges. This research aimed to analyze the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of implementing equine-assisted therapy within the SUS as a strategy to promote accessibility, the right to health, and social inclusion. A integrative review and documentary analysis of regulatory frameworks were conducted, including the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC) and Bill 3,446/2019, correlating clinical evidence with the SUS principles of universality and equity. The results demonstrate that the horse's three-dimensional gait produces fundamental sensory-motor stimuli for the rehabilitation of neurological and motor conditions, with positive impacts on autonomy and quality of life. In the field of public health, it was identified that the expansion of this method depends on overcoming financial bottlenecks and creating normative guidelines that ensure the sustainability and safety of the service. Equine-assisted therapy presents itself as an innovative resource capable of reducing inequalities and upholding the right to health. Its consolidation within the SUS as a humanized and inclusive practice constitutes an indispensable path toward comprehensive care, provided it is supported by scientific evidence and a legal guarantee of universal access for vulnerable populations.
Keywords: Equine-assisted therapy. Unified Health System (SUS). Rehabilitation. Animal-assisted therapy. Integrative practices.
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