Brazil Health Minister releases BRL 234 million for health services

Brazil’s Health Minister has released BRL 234 million a year for health services that were running without compensation from the federal government. The funds will go to 193 municipalities and will include Psychosocial Care Centers, Specialized Centers for Rehabilitation, Home Care and Emergency Care Units and to subsidize specialized and medium-complexity hospital and outpatient services. BRL 591 million were also released to meet the parliamentary amendments. The state of São Paulo also received 81 new ambulances from the Mobile Emergency Care Service. The objective is to replace ambulances with up to five years of circulation without renewal. The grant will benefit 57 cities in São Paulo. Of the total number of vehicles donated, 51 are among the 204 new cars purchased for the whole country, at a cost of BRL 30.7 million. The state of São Paulo currently has 594 ambulances, 495 units of basic support and 99 of advanced support, in addition to 58 motolances and 51 regulatory centers. According to Minister Ricardo Barros, the funds released are a result of the optimization of pulp spending. The biggest volume of savings made by the ministry was buying medicines, followed by contract review and administrative reform and very austere ministry management.