Fiocruz publishes document of contribution to presidential candidates

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) publishes its Letter to Candidates for the Presidency and Society. With the title Sustainable Development with Equity, Health and Democracy, the document seeks to contribute to the electoral debate, based on ten guidelines, which summarize a set of proposals for fields directly related to Brazilians' health and the country's development. The letter was sent to the campaign coordinators of all candidates for the Presidency of the Brazilian Republic.

Among the various proposals, the document draws attention to the need to progressively increase public investment in health to 7% of GDP in the next eight years, and in Science, Technology and Innovation to 2% of GDP in four years; for the repeal of Constitutional Amendment 95 and fiscal rules that restrict welfare, science and education; for the elimination of hunger and extreme poverty; to increase investments in the technological and industrial structures of health in the country to overcome the economic vulnerability of the Unified Health System (SUS) and reduce external dependence; for the new regulatory framework for active policies for productive development and innovation in health, guided by the demands of the SUS; and for the expansion of public vacancies, affirmative action and improvement of physical and digital infrastructure conditions in public education.

The guidelines also include the defense of the promotion of public policies related to equity and respect for diversity; an integrated action to face the climate and environmental emergency based on the social determinants of health within the scope of the 2030 Agenda; and international cooperation based on solidarity in Health, Science, Technology and Innovation, with the objective of reducing global asymmetries.

Fiocruz's letter is the result of debate and contribution from the institution's Deliberative Council. It adds to the democratic moment of seeking solutions for the country in constructing public policies, based on the knowledge accumulated in the institution. "We want to contribute to an agenda for the country's future, with more equity and justice, and this document is a piece of dialogue that reflects our commitment to taking stock of the challenges of Brazil and the world, having Science, Technology and Innovation as fundamental elements to think about human, social and economic development”, evaluates the president of Fiocruz, Nísia Trindade Lima.