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

For the position of agency director-president, Leandro Pinheiro Safatle received 54 favorable votes and only two against. Meanwhile, the appointment 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 CAS hearing, Campos emphasized the importance of Anvisa in seeking efficiency in the Unified Health System (SUS) and in reducing the risks of population illness. According to him, the agency needs to "encourage its technical staff again and resume its functions, expanding dialogue with civil society, states, municipalities, and its own employees".

At the hearing, Cerqueira stated that one of the major health challenges in Brazil is to ensure access to medications for patients with rare diseases. According to her, Anvisa must act to "ensure appropriate prices for the entry of these drugs into the country and seek funding methods that enable distribution to the population".