Diretor da OMS diz que Brasil é exemplo mundial por sistema de saúde

The statement was made during a visit to the Federal Hospital of Andaraí, North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, and state and municipal authorities.

The WHO director-general highlighted that few countries have a public system with such broad coverage.

"The SUS is one of the very few health systems in the world that covers the entire population. As a result, it guarantees access to people who are unable to pay for health services," he said.

"Brazil shows the world that it serves as an example. The Brazilian health system is universal and demonstrates that health should be for everyone, not just for a few", he added.

Tedros also praised Brazil's role in the international health agenda, citing the global agreement on pandemics approved this year and the historic cooperation between the WHO and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz).

Hepatitis B

Tedros participated in the delivery of the dossier that marks the beginning of the international certification process for the elimination of vertical transmission of hepatitis B (from mother to child) as a public health problem in Brazil. The document was presented on World Day to Combat Viral Hepatitis.

According to him, the result is the result of years of work by health professionals, researchers and communities across the country.

"Once again, I thank Brazil for showing that elimination is a discipline, and not just a slogan," he said.

Tedros' visit to the Hospital Federal do Andaraí took place during his visit to Brazil to participate in the International Conference on HIV/AIDS and commitments with the Ministry of Health related to disease elimination strategies and strengthening cooperation between the WHO and Brazilian institutions.

During the visit, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that the recovery of federal hospitals in Rio de Janeiro seeks to transform these units into centers of excellence.

"There is no country on the planet with more than 100 million inhabitants that has a universal health system functioning like our SUS," he said.

"The SUS works because the cleaners, nurses, doctors, technicians and all the workers had the courage to take care of people. That's why we are strengthening the SUS", he added.

Cancer treatment

The Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, stated that the visit allowed him to present to the WHO part of the actions developed by the Brazilian public system.

"We are going to consolidate in Brazil the largest universal public network for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment in the world," said the minister.

Padilha also highlighted the expansion of infrastructure for oncology treatment, with new radiotherapy centers, the expansion of Brasil Sorridente, robotic surgery in the SUS, health transport and primary care.