Brasília – With over 90% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and 50% of medical equipment imported, Brazil remains highly dependent on external suppliers. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these vulnerabilities, pushing the government to prioritize industrial autonomy. Against this backdrop, Bill 2,583/2020, already approved in the Chamber of Deputies and under review in the Senate, proposes the creation of a National Health Strategy.

The initiative seeks to strengthen domestic production of strategic products such as medicines, vaccines, serums, blood derivatives, medical devices, and critical supplies. It consolidates mechanisms including Productive Development Partnerships (PDPs), Local Innovation Development Programs (PDILs), and Technological Health Orders (ETECs), while aligning with existing industrial policies like the Health Economic-Industrial Complex (CEIS) and the New Industry Brazil (NIB) plan.

Industry leaders see the bill as a turning point. Reginaldo Arcuri, president of Grupo FarmaBrasil, argued that it could generate a legal framework as transformative as the generic drug law and the creation of Anvisa. Paulo Fraccaro, CEO of ABIMO, stressed that fostering domestic manufacturing is crucial for sanitary security, particularly in a global context of tariffs and protectionist policies.

However, experts warn that the bill lacks clear definitions on governance, targets, innovation mechanisms, and quality indicators—gaps that will need to be addressed during Senate review and future regulation.

Source: Futuro da Saúde

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