Investments range from the structuring of primary care units in the host cities of the FIFA World Cup 2014 to purchasing hospital equipment and ambulances

The Brazilian Ministry of Health is equipping healthcare units and serviceswith an investment of R$ 1.9 billion. This is the estimated value of public procurement expected to occur before 2014 in order to qualify and expand people's access to Primary Care Units (UBS), 24-Hour Emergency Care Units (UPA), Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) vehicles and stations, orthopedic workshops (fixed, river and land), Mobile Dental Units (UOM), oncology services and the National Force of the Unified Health System (SUS).

"This sum of funds covers items from structuring primary care units in the host cities to purchasing hospital equipment and SAMU ambulances, in addition to composing the SUS NationalForce. The investment began in 2011, runs until the end of 2014 and will be a legacy for host cities after hosting the major events," said the Health Minister, Alexandre Padilha. The minister presented the investments on Thursday (May 23, 2013), during a lecture on the preparations for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, at the International Congress of Health Services, in São Paulo.

The presentation covered the National Plan for Emergencies and Disasters and planned investments in mobile and emergency care units. By 2014, R$ 408 million is to be allocated to the Emergency Department Network in the World Cup host cities and respective metropolitan areas.

Major events

The Ministry of Health's main projects involve controlling the entry of people and foreign goods into the country, a restructuring plan for the health system, the expansion of Emergency Care Unit and SAMU services, and the consolidation of the SUS National Force. The aim is to prevent risks to both the general population as well as tourists.

The experience of the Ministry of Health in international cooperation, in prevention and health promotion actions during festivals such as Carnival, together with operations in tragic and emergency situations, such as the fire at the nightclub in Santa Maria, are considered fundamental by the minister in preparing the country for the World Cup and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Industrial complex

The healthcare equipment and services industry has an annual turnover of around R$ 340 billion in Brazil alone. Measures to promote the Healthcare Industrial Complex, such as the use of public purchasing power and partnerships for productive development, have stimulated the development and productive capacity of the domestic industry. Additionally, a law providing a margin of preference of up to 25% in tenders for companies producing in Brazil was established in 2012.

In April this year, Minister Padilha announced a package of initiatives aimed at providing a further boost to national production. Eight partnerships between public and private laboratories were entered into for the manufacture of medicines and equipment. On the occasion, an announcement was also made for the granting of R$ 7 billion in credit to Brazilian companies implementing innovative projects in healthcare.

Through partnerships for productive development between public and private laboratories, the Ministry of Health aims to ensure access to high-cost treatments and expand services to SUS patients. 63 partnerships are currently in place between 15 public and 35 private laboratories for the national production of 61 medicines and six types of equipment. These partnerships account for R$ 5.9 billion in public procurement and approximate annual savings of R$ 2.5 billion to the public coffers.

To ensure the quality of national production, as well as investment in research to create new innovative products, the Ministry of Health will make R$ 1 billion available by 2015 for investment in the infrastructure and human capital of the national public laboratories. In 2012, 14 public laboratories submitted 67 projects and received a total of R$ 242 million from the ministry.

Source:
Ministry of Health

28 May 2013