Anvisa has new approved directors

The Senate Plenary approved, on Tuesday (19), the names nominated for the board of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The nominations had already been analyzed and approved by the Social Affairs Committee (CAS) on August 13. The nominees now need to take office, with no date set yet.

For the position of agency director-president, Leandro Pinheiro Safatle received 54 favorable votes and only two against. The nomination of Thiago Lopes Cardoso Campos was approved with 49 votes in favor and five against. Finally, Daniela Marreco Cerqueira was approved with 59 favorable votes and none against, in addition to one abstention.

During the hearing at CAS, Campos emphasized the importance of Anvisa in seeking efficiency in the Unified Health System (SUS) and in reducing the risks of illness in the population. According to him, the agency needs to “reinvigorate its technical staff and resume its functions, expanding dialogue with civil society, states, municipalities, and its own employees.”

In the hearing, Cerqueira stated that one of the major challenges in health in Brazil is ensuring access to medications for patients with rare diseases. According to her, Anvisa should act to “ensure fair prices for the entry of these medicines into the country and seek funding solutions that enable distribution to the population.”