Alerts

• 3 October 2022
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Government of São Paulo receives loan of R$847.4 million for investment in telemedicine in SUS

The idea is to regulate and operationalize telemedicine in the Unified Health System (“SUS”).

In some regions of the capital of the state of São Paulo, the average waiting time for a medical appointment is currently more than 100 days. It is expected that the investment in technology will dicrease the waiting time and improve consultation triage, allowing that patients with more serious problems receive priority care.

With this contribution, the State of São Paulo intends to guarantee the provision of specialty telemedicine services through:

1. a logistics system that increases the efficiency of the health system through digital means; and
2. ​an integrated telehealth, supporting a line of patient care through health promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation actions.

The measure follows the same rationale of actions adopted by the Ministry of Health (“MoH”) to enable remote assistance within the scope of the SUS. With this objective in mind, on 6.3.2022 the MoH published Ordinance GM/MS No. 1,348/2022 to regulate and operationalize the use of technologies in remote assistance, education, research, disease and injury prevention, management, and promotion of health in the SUS. Furthermore, it also announced the future implementation of the Digital UBS Program, which aims to computerize the Basic Health Units (“UBS”) of several municipalities.

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Municipal Actions for the Implementation of Telemedicine

In line with the actions adopted by the MoH, some Municipalities have adopted local actions for the effective implementation of telemedicine in the daily lives of Brazilians. Among them, we highlight:

• On 11.23. 2021, the Municipality ofSão Paulosanctioned Municipal Law No. 17,718/2021, which allows for the practice of telemedicine on a permanent basis in the capital. In addition, the ‘e-saúde SP’ application was implemented. Since its adoption this scheme has already exceeded 4.5 million accesses, allowing for more than 444,953 teleservices, telemonitoring and teleconsultations[2].
• On 8.23.2022, the Municipality ofCampinaspublished the approval of the electronic auction for hiring a company to implement telemedicine in health centers providing for 70,000 online medical consultations per month in the metropolis[3].
• The Municipality ofCampo Grandeimplemented the Teleinterconsultation Project, which has already been installed in 9 UBSs and seeks to provide care to patients who need specialties such as cardiology and psychiatry[4]​​​.​​​​​
• The Municipality ofRio de Janeiroannounced the start of the Plan for the Recovery and Future of Rio costing approximately R$14 billion. Among the goals set for Health, the Program foresees the implementation of telemedicine by 2024, as well as an electronic medical record in the health units of the municipality[5].

Expectations for the Government of São Paulo

It is expected that with the new financial support received from the IADB, the Government of São Paulo will start to adopt the necessary measures for the effective implementation of telemedicine for the health care of São Paulo.

However, simply investing in new digital technologies is not enough. It is extremely important to invest in the training of professionals for this new systematic approach to the health system.

Lefosse’s Life Sciences & Healthcare Team closely monitors the changes that impact the Brazilian Sector. For further clarification on this matter, or others that may be of interest to you, contact our professionals.

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[1]  The IADB is a bank that aims to achieve development in a sustainable and ecological way, offering loans, subsidies and technical cooperation in three areas of intervention: (i) social inclusion and equity, (ii) productivity and innovation and (iii) economic integration. The bank is headed by the Board of Governors of each of the member countries, whose voting power is proportional to the capital subscribed to the Bank by the country. This Assembly meets annually and has the participation of representatives from countries such as Germany, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland and others.

[2]  https://www.capital.sp.gov.br/noticia/sancionada-lei-que-define-a-pratica-da-telemedicina-na-capital

[3]  https://portal.campinas.sp.gov.br/noticia/45586

[4]  https://www.campogrande.ms.gov.br/cgnoticias/noticias/em-4-meses-de-gestao-adriane-lopes-conquista-premio-de

[5]  https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/prefeitura-do-rio-anuncia-programa-de-investimentos-de-14-bilhoes-ate-2024-veja-quais-sao-as-93-metas-1-25110351

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