Conass is optimistic that Health will comply with 90-day transition to end of emergency

The National Council of Health Secretaries (Conass) believes that the federal government will comply with the 90-day transition period for the end of the Public Health Emergency of National Importance (ESPIN) due to Covid-19. The ordinance of the Ministry of Health that will regulate the decision should come out this Wednesday (20).

The matter was discussed by members of Conass (which represents the state health secretaries), the National Council of Municipal Health Departments (Conasems) and the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday afternoon (19).

The executive secretary of Conass, Jurandi Frutuoso, said he was optimistic about a consensus with the federal government. “I am confident that they will heed our request. […] There is no way to slow this down abruptly without risking assistance,” he told the CNN.

However, to the analyst CNN Gustavo Uribe, the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, was resistant and reinforced the initially announced deadline of 30 days, considered insufficient by the councils. “[São] 30 days. Exceptions will be discussed on a case-by-case basis, but, as I said, no important public policy will be interrupted,” said the minister.

This Tuesday morning, Conass and Conasems published a joint document in which they defend the 90-day period to consolidate the downward trend in cases, hospitalizations and deaths by Covid-19, in addition to advancing vaccination and building a plan to resumption and warning indicators about the spread of coronavirus.

Frutuoso said that, at the meeting with the Ministry of Health, the arguments were highlighted for an adaptation in partnership with states and municipalities.

“These are the issues of the need to continue with some services that were contracted, observing the regulations of the pandemic, taking into account that there is still a need for patient care, to continue vaccinating people, that the pandemic has not yet ended”, he highlighted.

With the end of Espin, about 2,000 administrative acts from different ministries can be revoked, adapted or become permanent policy. Given the magnitude of the effects linked to the emergency decree, such as permission for emergency purchases, opening of beds, hiring health professionals and authorization for vaccines, the councils ask for this longer period of adaptation.

THE CNN questioned the federal government about the outcome of the meeting, which manifested itself through a note, without details regarding the demand. “The Ministry of Health maintains a permanent dialogue with states and municipalities and reinforces that no public policy will be interrupted with the measure. The ministry understands that the epidemiological scenario allows for the closure of Espin, in addition to the high vaccination coverage and the response and assistance capacity of the Unified Health System (SUS)”, says the note.

Source: CNN Brasil

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