The Chamber of Deputies approved Bill (PL) 3010/19, by deputy Dr. Leonardo, from Republicanos-MT, which establishes guidelines for the Unified Health System (SUS) to provide care and treatment for people with Fibromyalgia Syndrome, chronic fatigue or complex regional pain syndrome. The approved text was authored by the rapporteur, deputy Josenildo (PDT-AP) and the bill will now be sent to the Senate.
Fibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome characterized by pain throughout the body, especially in the muscles, as well as symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, memory and attention deficit disorders, anxiety, depression, and intestinal disorders. According to the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology, it is a common disease and, of every ten patients with fibromyalgia, seven to nine are women, mainly between the ages of 35 and 55.
“The condition faces prejudice due to the lack of specific diagnostic tests. The current challenge is to provide comprehensive, quality care,” the text points out. “Fibromyalgia is not yet considered a disability, making it difficult to obtain benefits. There is no cure, but treatment is crucial to controlling symptoms and improving quality of life,” it added.
The text provides for the need for biopsychosocial assessment for people with these diseases to be considered as people with disabilities. According to the bill, the assessment must be carried out by a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team and must consider impairments in the body’s functions and structures, socio-environmental, psychological and personal factors, limitations in the performance of activities and restrictions on full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with other people.
The project also establishes guidelines for care, access to additional tests, pharmaceutical assistance and access to therapeutic modalities (such as physiotherapy and physical activity, for example), including community participation in its implementation and encouraging the insertion of people with any of these diseases into the job market.
Other points of the guidelines established by the project include encouraging the training and qualification of professionals specialized in caring for people and their families, in addition to encouraging scientific research through epidemiological studies to measure the magnitude and characteristics of these diseases in Brazil.
To implement the guidelines, the public authorities may sign a contract with private legal entities, preferably non-profit entities.
The Executive Branch may also carry out studies to create a single registry of people with these diseases, with information on their health conditions and care needs; clinical, care and work monitoring; and social protection mechanisms.
How is fibromyalgia currently diagnosed and treated?
Currently, no tests are used to diagnose fibromyalgia and the disease is detected clinically, that is, through a doctor’s interview and analysis of symptoms. According to the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology, diagnostic criteria are used to determine whether the patient has rheumatic disease or if another health problem is causing the symptoms, which are: pain for more than three months throughout the body and the presence of painful points in the muscles (11 points, out of 18 that are pre-established).
According to the society, often, even if patients do not present all pain points, the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is made and treatment is started.
Fibromyalgia is treated with medication and non-medication measures, such as physiotherapy and physical activity, such as walking, swimming, water aerobics, stretching or muscle strengthening. According to the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology, the medications used include antidepressants, muscle relaxants and neuromodulators. If the disease causes sleep disorders, sleep-inducing medications may also be used.
Women’s pain is taken less seriously in consultations, study finds
This content was originally published in Understand PL that equates fibromyalgia sufferers to people with disabilities on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I am an experienced journalist and writer with a career in the news industry. My focus is on covering Top News stories for World Stock Market, where I provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on markets around the world. I have expertise in writing both long-form articles and shorter pieces that deliver timely, relevant updates to readers.
