There are only three countries in the world – Australia, Ireland, and Brazil – with national men’s health policies. The Brazilian case is particularly compelling. In 2009, the Brazilian Ministry of Health, along with civil society, medical associations, and academic actors, created the pioneering National Comprehensive Healthcare Policy for Men (PNAISH).

This case study shares PNAISH’s evolution, exposing its challenges and successes. It aims to guide global policy makers, practitioners, and researchers, on promoting men’s health as a platform to improve gender transformative healthcare for both men and women, and to advance gender equality more broadly. Lessons learned for adaptation and scale up include: 

• Develop political and advocacy strategies early on to ensure political commitment and sustainability
• Partner with civil society and academics to develop a gender transformative approach to men’s health
• Include practical guidance and trainings for state and municipal health administrators to implement the policy on the ground
• Include gender transformative indicators in the impact evaluation plan