Health departments defend new anti-epidemic legislation

08/02/2021 – 20:45

Health secretariat representatives and researchers told lawmakers that the country needs to prepare for potential new pandemics with legislation capable of defining clear powers for federal entities.

To ensure effective action in health crises, Bill 1902/21, which sets out guidelines for prevention, detection, surveillance, response, and recovery, has been submitted to the House Social Security and Family Committee; and to control, eliminate and reduce the risks of public health emergencies of national importance.

The project, co-authored by Representatives Odorico Monteiro (PSB-CE) and Totonho (PDT-CE), updates Brazil’s epidemiological surveillance legislation that defines the procedures and responsibilities of each of the health managers.

Odorico Monteiro noted that the legislation dealing with this issue dates back to 1976 and that the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of coordinated action by health authorities in the three areas of government. This will be a general regulation to strengthen the role of municipalities, states and the union in the pandemic. In the entire process of Covid-19, the country has experienced an institutional crisis.”

The representative of the Ministry of Health, Rosanna Let de Mello, highlighted the importance of the project to ensure clear and up-to-date standards capable of guiding actions to deal with health emergencies. “Because we really need a normative trend, which is beyond time,” he said.

one order
The representative of the National Board of Municipal Health Trustees, Alessandro Chagas, noted that municipalities often do not have legal advice to deal with complex regulations, and therefore, it is necessary for the federal government to act in a single order for part of the SUS.

Ceará’s Minister of Health, José Xavier Neto, advocated the creation of a disease control center as a way to ensure faster action in the face of health crises and to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in Brazil.

“I see our current system as very fragmented and fundamentally lacking in strength. If we all think: What is the power of epidemiological surveillance compared to health surveillance? He lamented.

The representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Maria Almiron, indicated that in countries where the epidemiological legislation is more modern, the Covid-19 epidemic has been fought more efficiently, and for this reason the revision of Brazilian legislation is essential to confront new health crises.

Report – Carla Alessandra
Edition – Georgia Moraes