Lula’s team wants ‘repeal’ of Bolsonaro’s health policies without state approval

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The working group on health in the transition of the government of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) maps rules and guidelines developed during the administration of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) that can be revoked.

On the list, there are policies created by the Ministry of Health without the approval of states and municipalities, in addition to rules that follow denialist flags, such as encouraging the use of the Covid kit in the fight against the pandemic.

In a first analysis, the assessment is that there are about 60 rules that can be revoked. The texts are decrees, ordinances and notes from the Ministry of Health and other folders, such as the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights.

The transition team is still planning a new structure for the ministry, with the creation of a mental health department, and changes in the control of federal hospitals in Rio de Janeiro. The health group also wants to reinforce the national production policy for medicines and inputs.

According to the plan, decrees will be revoked in the first week of the government, a movement that should occur in parallel with other areas, such as public safety and the environment. The review of ordinances should appear as a suggestion for the minister who will be chosen for the area.

The list should be presented at an internal meeting of Lula’s health team at the beginning of next week. The transition groups have until next Wednesday (30) to complete the first report, with a preliminary diagnosis by the ministries.

The final report of each group will be delivered by December 11, presenting the analysis of actions taken by the Bolsonaro administration and a final suggestion for repealing norms, as well as an indication of priority measures in the first hundred days of Lula’s government.

The “revolution” in health, according to members of the transition, should symbolize the resumption of dialogue between the federal government and the councils of state (Conass) and municipal (Conasems) secretaries.

In addition, the plan is to undo norms and booklets linked to Bolsonaro’s conservative or denialist flags, such as guidelines on women’s health that attack legal abortion or minimize the risks of teenage pregnancy; as well as texts that encourage the use of ineffective drugs against Covid-19.

President of Conass and head of the portfolio in Espírito Santo, Nésio Fernandes told Sheet that there are six policies of the Bolsonaro government with the greatest impact that were implemented without the approval of states and municipalities: 1) national program for the prevention and early detection of cancer; 2) encouragement of breastfeeding; 3) Cuida Mais Brasil, on women’s health care and maternal and child health, 4) Cardiovascular Health Strategy; 5) Mother and Child Network; and 6) incentive to dental prenatal care.

These policies alone had a budget of around R$460 million, according to the council of state secretaries.

Fernandes said that the Bolsonaro government has implemented actions without dialogue, especially in the last two years, with resources totaling around R$850 million.

The president of Conass affirms that the discussion between the federative entities about national policies, in addition to being mandatory by law, is relevant to define criteria for distribution of funds, targets and other indicators of each policy.

“The lack of an agreement leads policies to failure. It encourages the fracture of inter-federative unity”, said Fernandes.

Local managers also suggested to the transition that the values ​​of the rules made without dialogue be reallocated in other actions, such as accreditation of oral health teams, in addition to those that work in riverside communities.

“There is a scene of horror in several norms, especially on chloroquine, legal abortion. We need to focus on what is urgent and cannot wait, on policies that need to be agreed or revoked”, said Fernandes.

The transition team also wants to reinforce the national production policy for inputs and medicines, including in partnership with the industry. The reading is that the country cannot be hostage to imports in times of shortages, as occurred in the pandemic.

This week, the group met with industry representatives. He also had conversations with the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, and the President of the TCU (Union Court of Auditors), Bruno Dantas.

The WG will also suggest a new structure to the Ministry of Health. One of the ideas is to create the Department of Mental Health. In an interview with Sheetformer Health Minister Arthur Chioro had said that the area is a priority for the new government.

“The impact on mild, moderate, and severe mental disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide attempts from the pandemic has grown significantly,” said Chioro.

Another plan is to remove command of federal hospitals in Rio de Janeiro from the Executive Secretariat for Health and place the sector within the folder that takes care of units across the country, the Secretariat for Specialized Health Care.

The transition assesses that these hospitals, in addition to being scrapped, are equipped by appointees of Bolsonarist politicians in Rio and by military personnel. The idea is to expand the ministry’s command over federal units.

The working group considers suggesting the creation of a specific folder in the ministry for the analysis and promotion of health technologies.

The secretaries of states and municipalities also demanded a new relationship with Health in the Lula government from the transition.

“The worst feeling that can exist is revanchism and nostalgia. The new government needs to understand that it is being called to lead Brazil, to overcome the challenges of this moment, which are not the same as those of previous administrations”, said Fernandes, president of Conass.

In a meeting with the health WG last Thursday (24), Lula said that the first hundred days of his government will be marked by the recovery of vaccination campaigns. The president-elect also signaled that a flag of the new government will be to increase the population’s access to specialized medicine in the SUS.

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