Pacheco sees new SUS table as “more viable” to fund nursing floor

The president of the National Congress and the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), said this Tuesday (6th) that he sees a readjustment of the Unified Health System (SUS) table as the most “viable” way to help in the budget necessary to pay the nursing salary floor.

The Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Luís Roberto Barroso suspended, on Sunday (4), the law passed by Congress and sanctioned by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro (PL), which stipulates a salary floor for nursing.

Barroso took the decision to suspend the law to better assess its impact on the health system. He also requested further clarification within 60 days on public spending and the risk of mass layoffs, for example.

“I think it is the most viable path and I very much expect the collaboration of the Executive Branch, the understanding of the dilemma we are facing and, I repeat, it becomes a national and Congressional priority, which is to enforce the law of the national nursing floor” , declared Rodrigo Pacheco.

The Senate president met earlier with Barroso to address the issue.

“Both defended the importance of the minimum wage, but agreed on the need for a perennial source of funds to make wages at a minimum level viable. Three points were proposed as possibilities: the correction of the SUS table; the exemption of the sector’s payroll; and the compensation of the states’ debt with the Union”, says a note released by the Supreme Court after the meeting.

Pacheco said he felt Barroso’s “absolute willingness” to find a solution and confirmed that these three possibilities are the most discussed at the moment. He said he still does not have a meeting scheduled with members of the federal government, but plans to arrange meetings with the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, and the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga.

The issue of a Provisional Measure by the Executive may be an alternative. However, Pacheco stressed that it is necessary before reaching a consensus on the solution itself.

Asked about the possibility of a vote in the middle of the electoral campaign, with parliamentarians out of Brasilia and focused on securing another term, Pacheco said he knows about the difficulties, but that he will call a possible vote before the elections, if necessary.

Pacheco confirmed that analyzing the project that legalizes gambling in the country was raised as a possibility – part of the proceeds from the games would be destined for public health. However, he stated that this should only be analyzed after the elections. The topic is controversial, with much opposition from parliamentarians. The bill has been stalled in the Senate since February.

“It has to be very well thought out”, he said about the project. “There are a lot of values ​​involved in that.”

Pacheco was also asked about the request for the return of the Provisional Measure that postpones appeals for the Aldir Blanc and Paulo Gustavo laws, made by opposition parliamentarians. The president of the Senate informed that the House’s lawyers are still analyzing the issue.

“The return of a Provisional Measure is always possible, but extraordinary and very exceptional”, he pointed out.

He said he intends to talk to the Ministry of Economy to find the “necessary fiscal space” later this year in order to put the laws into practice.