The Ministry of Health announced this Sunday (30) an investment of R$9.8 billion in adaptation actions in the Unified Health System (SUS)including the construction of new health units and the acquisition of equipment resilient to climate change.
In a note, the ministry informed that the initiatives are part of AdaptaSUS, a plan presented during the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), in Belém, with strategies that prepare the network to face the impacts of climate change.
At the 14th Brazilian Public Health Congress (Abrascão), where the investment was announced, the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, classified the climate crisis as a public health problem and highlighted that, worldwide, one in 12 hospitals stops their activities due to extreme weather events.
During the event, the minister launched the National Guide for Resilient Health Units, which provides guidance on the construction and adaptation of basic health units (UBS), emergency care units (UPA) and hospitals, so that the structures can withstand climate events.
The document, according to the ministry, now integrates projects from the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC Saúde), with guidelines on reinforced structures, energy and water autonomy, building intelligence and security standards.
A technical group responsible for detailing the resilience guidelines was also installed, made up of experts from the ministry itself, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and health councils.
Research ethics
Also during the congress, the ministry presented the creation of the National Institute for Research Ethics (Inaep). The proposal is to modernize the Brazilian system of ethical evaluation in studies with human beings.
The new structure, according to the ministry, speeds up analysis, reduces duplication, defines risk criteria and regulates biobanks, “bringing Brazil closer to the best international practices and expanding its participation in global clinical research”, assessed the ministry.
