Government plans to produce 70% of health supplies by 10 years

Brazilian Health Minister Nísia Trindade said Tuesday (Sep. 26) that the government is working to produce 70 percent of all health supplies used in the country within ten years. “The steps will be taken from now on, resuming efforts that began 20 years ago,” she said, referring to the launch of strategies to bolster the Health Economic and Industrial Complex, scheduled for today.

“Planned investments total BRL 42.1 billion. A portion of this will come under the PAC [Growth Acceleration Program], where we will have investments in public laboratories, with a focus on Hemobrás, to quadruple the production of vaccines—a great tool for health on a regular basis and for pandemic situations,” the minister noted on Conversa com o Presidente, aired on Canal Gov.

“Planned investments total BRL 42.1 billion", the minister noted on Conversa com o Presidente, aired on Canal Gov

According to the minister, the total amount planned stand at approximately BRL 23 billion in investments from the private sector, as well as funding from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep). “These add up to BRL 42.1 billion. It’s the biggest investment in recent years because we’ve created a favorable system.”

“In order to have investment in innovation and production, we need predictability. When I was president of Fiocruz, I experienced this first hand,” she said. “This action is in line with the new industrial policy, a policy based on mission. And the mission in health care is to meet the needs of the people. Our focus is not on the product, but on the needs felt in the SUS [Brazil’s Unified Public Health Care Network].”