Brasília – The Senate’s Temporary Subcommittee on Cancer Prevention and Treatment held a public hearing on October 7 to discuss the urgent need for increased federal investment in research, innovation, and access to therapies against cancer. Lawmakers and experts warned that Brazil risks falling behind global standards in oncology if it fails to expand funding and foster local production of high-cost medicines.

Participants from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the National Cancer Institute (INCA) emphasized the need to strengthen the national research ecosystem and attract new clinical trials to the country. The discussion also highlighted the importance of implementing the Law of Clinical Trials (Law No. 14,874/2024) to streamline approvals, reduce bureaucracy, and align Brazil’s industrial and health-innovation policies.

Speakers noted that cancer is on track to become the leading cause of death in Brazil in the coming decades, underscoring the importance of early detection, prevention, and equitable access to modern treatments through the SUS. Representatives from the pharmaceutical industry reinforced the urgency of removing regulatory bottlenecks, arguing that each delay in incorporating therapies can cost lives.

Source: Agência Senado

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