This project has been shortlisted for the DPH 2025 Innovation Prize – Best Scale-Up
Team: Thiago Matos, Erica Rinaldi, Adriana Brazão, Maria Lúcia Yamashita, Bettina Grajcer, Leandro Piquet and Angela Rios (Municipality of São Paulo, Auíri Social and Environmental Projects Ltd., University of São Paulo (USP))
Outline: ModeraSP is pioneering digital public health solution from Brazil that empowers individuals to make more conscious decisions about alcohol consumption through a scalable, inclusive, and evidence-based platform. Developed through a cross-sector alliance between the São Paulo City Health Department, the University of São Paulo (USP), and the social impact startup Auíri, the program integrates the WHO-recommended Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) method into the city’s official digital health platform (e-saúdeSP app), making prevention accessible to more than 12 million citizens.
Launched citywide in 2024 after a successful pilot in primary care units (UBSs) and psychosocial care centers (CAPS), ModeraSP has now engaged over 57,000 users, trained 2,500+ health professionals, and been officially embedded in São Paulo’s primary healthcare protocol – making it a replicable model for other cities and countries.
Strategic Scale-Up Pathway:
- Pilot Phase: Deployed in 17 Primary Care Units (UBSs) and 2 Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) to test feasibility.
- Digital Development: A user-friendly virtual assistant (Susana) guides users through the AUDIT questionnaire, offering confidential, personalized feedback.
- Capacity Building: 2,500+ healthcare professionals trained to deliver digital brief interventions.
- Protocol Integration: Workflows aligned with SUS to ensure continuity of care.
- Citywide Expansion: Rolled out to all 479 UBSs and 103 CAPS with public outreach to encourage adoption.
Key Innovation Aspects:
- Behavioral Tools: Interactive videos, habit replacement guidance, breathing techniques, and weekly alcohol tracking, co-designed with UX and behavioral science experts.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: Combining public institutions, academia, and agile startup development.
- Universal Access: Free, mobile-friendly, inclusive of all age groups and genders – with tailored guidance for adolescents and pregnant users.
- Economic Return: Aligned with the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan (2022–2030), with a projected $9.10 return per $1 invested.
Impact (as of Q1 2025):
- 57,000+ users reached
- 2,500+ health professionals trained
- Active in all UBSs and CAPS in São Paulo
- Integrated into official public health protocols
- Scalable and adaptable for other regions
Challenges & Lessons Learned:
- The scale-up faced hurdles such as ensuring digital inclusion and sustaining engagement.
Key lessons:
- Adapt international frameworks to local realities
- Build privacy-conscious, user-friendly solutions
- Apply iterative design with real-time monitoring
ModeraSP transforms alcohol intervention into a scalable, digital-first public health service. It positions primary healthcare as a platform for prevention, combining behavioral science, technology, and public policy to drive meaningful population health outcomes. With strong institutional support and public investment, it offers a replicable model for other health systems tackling noncommunicable diseases through digital innovation.
