INTRODUCTION:
The growth of low-cost private clinics in Brazil transcends a simple response to healthcare access gaps; it reflects complex business strategies and market competition. This study moves beyond the quantitative expansion to analyze what these movements express regarding corporate consolidation and the dilemmas of integrating private actors into a public-centered system.

METHODS:
The analysis utilizes empirical data from commercial registries, filtered by National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE) codes (8630-5/01, 8630-5/02, 8630-5/03) to identify multi-specialty establishments with digital presence and affordable consultation fees. The methodology acknowledges the limitation of the data as a "static photograph," focusing on identifying patterns of spatial distribution and business models rather than long-term time series.

RESULTS:
Preliminary findings suggest an accelerated, and potentially "inflated," market expansion driven by competition. There is a visible trend toward corporate consolidation, where larger groups acquire or marginalize smaller units. Furthermore, these clinics increasingly simulate the logic of private health plans, often creating hybrid networks that prioritize high-volume, low-complexity episodic care over continuous patient follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:
The proliferation of low-cost clinics indicates a significant shift toward the privatization of primary care access under a business-driven logic. While they offer immediate availability, the lack of coordination with the public health system and the focus on market sustainability pose risks to healthcare equity and care continuity. Understanding these entrepreneurial dynamics is essential for developing regulatory frameworks that prevent further fragmentation of the Brazilian healthcare landscape.