President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Friday (6) that 2026 will be a year of dispute between truths and lies, but that “the truth will prevail thanks to the mobilization of people to unmask false information”. 
“This year, get ready, because it will be the year of the dispute between the truth and the lie, between those who did it and those who didn’t do it; between those who speak the truth and those who lie,” he said.
In Salvador, Bahia, Lula participated in the launch of New PAC Health actions aimed at strengthening the Unified Health System (SUS). At the ceremony, he recalled that even the SUS has been the target of lies since its creation.
According to him, lies were spread with the purpose of discrediting the program, mainly by those who did not need public hospitals to receive health treatments.
“You know that the SUS has been attacked since it was created. People who didn’t use it criticized it; people who never went to the SUS for consultation said that it was no good. And the press gave it a go. It only showed people sleeping in the corridor”, he said.
“But Covid came and, if it weren’t for the SUS, this country would be finished”, he added.
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Lie industry
According to Lula, there is, in Brazil, “a true industry of telling lies” which needs to be combated with the help of authorities and society.
“2026 will be the year of truth. It is the year that we will have to prove that truth and good can overcome evil and lies”, said the president.
In this sense, he added, “it is up to each mayor, councilor, union leader, women and men not to allow lies to prevail, because it is not possible to live with the amount of lies that these people put out every single day”.
“We are going to unmask these people”, he added, referring to those who claim to speak in the name of God, but who, repeatedly, “show themselves to be in favor of death and lies”.
Vehicles for the SUS
The event in Salvador marks, according to Planalto, “the beginning of a set of structuring investments that expand access to exams, surgeries and patient transport, with a direct impact on the public health network in Bahia and the entire country”.
At the event, the government announced the purchase of 2,100 vehicles to transport SUS patients. R$815 million were invested in resources from the New PAC Health called Agora Tem Especialistas, Caminhos da Saúde.
700 minibuses, 700 vans and 700 basic support ambulances were purchased for cases that require greater care.
“These vehicles will be available to take patients to specialized services, with priority for cancer care. The forecast is that this entire quantity will be delivered in 2026”, detailed Planalto.
New equipment
Also during the event, the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, signed contracts authorizing the purchase of 80 new CT scanners, at a cost of R$170 million.
The government also announced the purchase of 150 combos of equipment aimed at general and ophthalmology surgeries. The equipment will be destined for public hospitals in around 120 municipalities.
The acquisition of 10,000 sets of equipment for basic health units is also planned. The equipment includes cold chambers for vaccines, digital scales and therapeutic lasers for wound treatment and rehabilitation – around 180,000 devices.
