Chamber approves PEC that defines nursing floor financing

The Chamber of Deputies approved this Thursday (15), in two shifts, the PEC (proposed amendment to the Constitution) that provides for complementary financial assistance from the Union for the payment of the nursing floor and defines as a source of resources the financial surplus of public funds from the Executive Branch.

Approved in the first round by 423 votes to 13, and by 413 to 13 in the second round of voting, the PEC now goes to the Senate.

According to Agência Câmara de Notícias, the proposal provides for complementary financial assistance from the Union to states, the Federal District, municipalities and philanthropic entities for the payment of minimum wages for nursing professionals: nurses, nursing technicians, nursing assistants and midwives.

The text points to the financial surplus of the public funds of the Executive Branch as a source of resources for the fulfillment of the floors, according to Agência Câmara.

It also provides for the expansion of financial aid granted to institutions providing services that serve at least 60% of their patients through the SUS (Unified Health System).

Approved by the National Congress during the electoral period, the nursing floor is suspended by the STF (Federal Supreme Court) on the grounds that a source for payment was not foreseen. Hospitals and philanthropic houses argued that they would not be able to afford the amounts.

The approved floor value was R$ 4,750 for nurses; 70% of this amount to nursing technicians; and 50% to nursing assistants and midwives.