On Wednesday (27), the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill establishing principles for the practice of telehealth in Brazil. The proposal now goes to the Senate.
Despite the approval, opposition parties voted against the order, as they advocated further discussion of the project. Previously limited to telemedicine, the proposal has been expanded to include telecare in all areas of health.
“What we are talking about is not against telehealth. What we are talking about here is that there is a hybrid nature of a project that was telemedicine a week ago and is now telehealth without consultation, without immersion, without Respect for other health professionals.
The rapporteur, Representative Pedro Villala (PSDB-AL), defended the approval of the project.
“The alternative to this bill, a bill of 15 cross-party authors, which was created during the month of April in a broad dialogue among all parties involved, is, in my opinion, fully ready for a vote today, counting on its inclusion with official support from the Federal Board of Medicine , as well as the Brazilian Medical Association,” he said.
The text, written by Representative Adriana Ventura (Novo-SP), proposes disciplinary and licensing of the practice of telehealth throughout the national territory. The project states that service provision must comply with the following principles:
- health professional independence;
- free and informed consent of the patient;
- the right to refuse service in such a way as to ensure face-to-face service, upon request;
- Safe and high-quality patient care;
- data confidentiality;
- Digital responsibility.
The proposal defines this method as the provision of health services remotely, through the use of information and communication technologies, which includes the secure transmission of health data and information, through texts, sounds, images or other appropriate forms.
According to the proposal, the health professional will ensure complete freedom and independence to decide whether or not to use telehealth, including with regard to the first consultation, service or procedure.
The text also states that it is mandatory to register with the regional boards of medicine of the states in which they are headquartered, intermediary companies of medical services and medical professionals to practice telemedicine.
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