Brasília – Although a recent law guarantees a voting seat for a civil-society or patient representative on the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in the Unified Health System (Conitec), the measure still awaits formal regulation by the Ministry of Health (Ministério da Saúde). The forthcoming decree will define how the representative will be selected, the term of office, and the conflict-of-interest safeguards applicable to this new position.

Under the law, only organisations with at least two years of formal existence and proven activity related to the health condition under evaluation will be eligible. Patient associations and advocacy groups have expressed concern about the delay in implementing the rule, warning that the absence of representation risks undermining transparency and social participation in Conitec’s decision-making process.

Experts also point out that without regulation, decisions on the incorporation of innovative therapies in the Unified Health System (SUS) could face greater judicial challenges, increasing uncertainty for both patients and the industry.

Source: Futuro da Saúde

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