Mônica Bergamo: Consumer Protection Institute wants plans to cover monkeypox exam

The Idec (Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection) sent a letter to the ANS (National Supplementary Health Agency) asking the agency to include monkeypox tests, in addition to the treatment of the disease, in the list of procedures of health operators.

Idec recalls the period of Covid-19 and points out that “in a new context of public health emergency, it is imperative and vital that access to health services occurs in the widest possible way”.

The document also states: “Months after the first diagnosis and the spread of the disease, information shared by communication channels indicates that health plan operators have refused to pay for the exams”.

Called the List of Health Procedures and Events, the list specifies consultations, exams, therapies and surgeries that constitute the mandatory coverage of regulated health plans. All items must be guaranteed by the operators, under penalty of fines or suspension of the commercialization of the plans.

And in the Hermes Pardini group, a network of private laboratories with national operations, the positive results for the monkey pox test performed reached the mark of 21.4% in the last week, from August 21 to 27. All exams were performed without an agreement.

There was also a 30% increase in demand for the exam compared to the previous week, between the 14th and 20th, when positivity was 20%.

Also according to the group’s survey, the South and Midwest regions had an increase in the number of infected patients, compared to a drop in the Southeast region. Regarding the profile of those infected, 70% of the public is male and 50% are between 25 and 39 years old.

GALA NIGHT

The presenter Sabrina Sato and the business couple Ana Hickmann and Alexandre Correa attended the Baile do BB, held by promoter Beto Pacheco, at the Rosewood hotel, in São Paulo, last week. The party gathered about 800 people and had a surprise show by singer Preta Gil. Actress Bruna Marquezine and model Mariana Goldfarb were there.

AMONG FRIENDS

Writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva received guests such as journalist and editor Matinas Suzuki Jr. at the launch of her newest novel, “Do Começo ao Fim” (Alfaguara publishing house), on Monday night (29). The event was hosted at Ria Livraria, in São Paulo.

Actress and director Bárbara Paz and writers JP Cuenca and Reinaldo Moraes were there. Journalist Leão Serva, lawyer Luís Francisco Carvalho Filho and screenwriter Jacqueline Cantore also attended.

^{with BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}