Leaving position, ex-minister asks for continuity of health care programs

Former Health Minister Arthur Chioro asked today (Oct. 6) for the continuity of actions proposed by the ministry and defended what he called the sustainable financing of the Unified Public Health Care System (SUS).

During the ceremony for transfer of power, he argued that the Brazilian society needs to discuss the health care system it wants for the country, and he also itted that the financial resources provided to the area are finite. "The challenge is posed," he declared.

Chioro halted the address to hand over to new Health Minister Marcelo Castro a copy of the proposal for the More Specialties Program, which still has no date for being launched.

At the end of his speech, the former minister reported that he took up the post to serve the substantial portion of the population that depends on the SUS and referred to the 20 months during which he run the ministry as intense.

"I am sure that we ethically met our duty," he said. "I served as minister, I am a sanitarian and I will continue to be," he concluded.

In his inaugural speech, new Health Minister Marcelo Castro also defended a permanent source of financing for the sector. "We must all commit ourselves to a social pact. Permanent sources of financing for health care are necessary to make sure services are improved," he announced, not referring specifically to the Temporary Contribution on Financial Transactions (MF) that the government is considering to bring back for raising revenue.

Castro pointed out that states and municipalities have crossed the lower limit (15%) for spending on health, provided by law. "We must arouse a sense of belonging in society towards the SUS," he stated. He also announced his plans to on to states and municipalities half of the federal revenue levied by the new source of financing.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta

Relacionadas

Rousseff swears in ten ministers and asks for commitment

More Doctors program approved of by population