Brazil has the economic and operational conditions to meet an eventual increase in the demand of the national health system for intensive care hospital beds in the face of the increase in cases of Covid-19 and Influenza. The assessment is made by the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, who spoke to journalists this Wednesday morning (12).
“In a case of pressure on the hospital system that we have to increase intensive care beds again – if that happens, I hope not – we will be prepared”, says Queiroga.
He highlighted extraordinary credits released by the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, last year to fight the pandemic and purchase vaccines, and says that the Economy is prepared for an eventual increase in the need for funding for Health in the coming weeks.
A study carried out by USP and Unesp points out that the transmission rate of Covid-19 went from 0.90 on December 20 to 1.3 at the beginning of 2022, which demonstrates an acceleration of the pandemic.
In some municipalities, the occupancy rate of hospital beds due to cases of Covid-19 and Influenza is a concern.
“The basic health units are experiencing an increase in the number of patients”, acknowledged Queiroga. “This is the result of the end-of-year festivities that were in no way encouraged by the federal government”, he added.
The minister also said that the government’s priority at the moment is to increase the number of people vaccinated in the northern region of the country, where there is a vaccine deficit. “Pará and Tocantins are on our horizon and it is necessary that we meet with government officials to expand actions,” he said.
Despite the concern to increase the number of vaccinated in the region, Queiroga guarantees that the situation is under control in the region. In early 2021, the state of Amazonas, in particular, suffered from a lack of hospital care, including oxygen and intubation kits.
If there is pressure on the health system in the northern region, the preparation is much greater.
Car tests
Even without the issuance of the technical note that validates the use, Minister Queiroga said that those who acquired the self-test can make use of it. “If you brought the test (from abroad) you can test it. It has guidelines, it is not complex”, he said.
He says that individual initiative can help increase the number of people tested in Brazil and help control the pandemic. “As long as the pharmacy puts advisors to carry out the test and informs the data to the MS, it is an initiative that can add to the effort of the MS and the public power”, he said.
Anvisa’s technical note on the feasibility of using self-tests should come out this week, said the minister.
Reference: CNN Brasil
