The Chamber of Deputies approved this Thursday (15) the Proposal for an Amendment to the Constitution that provides for complementary financial assistance from the Union to the states, the Federal District, municipalities and philanthropic entities for the payment of the minimum wages of nurses, health care technicians, nursing, nursing assistant and midwife. The matter goes to the Senate.
Voted in two rounds in today’s session, the text establishes that the financial surplus of public funds of the Executive Branch will be used as a source of funds for compliance with the floors. According to the text of the rapporteur, deputy Alice Portugal (PCdoB-BA), resources from the public funds of the Executive Branch, calculated at the end of each fiscal year, in the financial years from 2023 to 2027, may be allocated.
“In 2022, the National Treasury Secretariat released its balance sheet for 2021, in which it was estimated that the financial surplus of Union funds for that financial year was R$ 20.9 billion, of which R$ 3.9 billion refer to the portion of the Social Fund (SF) destined to public health and education”, said the rapporteur. “We also point out that the Union has R$ 40 billion in primary funds for free investment. The amount of expenses necessary to pay the financial aid provided for by PEC 27/22 is estimated at R$ 18 billion ”, she compared.
The text includes the expansion of granting financial aid to contracted service providers who serve at least 60% of their patients through the Unified Health System (SUS). The matter also foresees the possibility of using part of the Social Fund’s resources to be applied in the health area, as a way of creating a permanent source for the payment of financial assistance for the fulfillment of the nursing floor.
Regarding the impacts of financial aid on personnel expense limits, there will be a transition period for the limits to be accounted for within 11 years after the measure comes into force, considering the first year without impact and with an increase of 10% counting this impact over the next ten years.
Understand
The basic salary for nurses was approved in August by the National Congress in the amount of R$ 4,750, 70% of which – R$ 3,325 – goes to nursing technicians; and 50% – R$ 3,325 – to nursing assistants and midwives.
However, in the following month, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) suspended the floor when serving the National Confederation of Health, Hospitals and Establishments and Services (CNSaúde). On the occasion, Minister Luís Roberto Barroso stated that the decision was taken because a source of funds was needed to enable the payment of the minimum wage. According to the minister, private hospitals were carrying out layoffs in advance. In addition, social works, Santas Casas and city halls reported that they do not have the resources to pay for the floor.
