Brasília – The Ministry of Health is evaluating new procurement mechanisms for high-cost medicines in the Unified Health System (SUS), seeking to ensure access to innovation while maintaining fiscal sustainability. The proposal was presented by Adriano Massuda, acting Minister of Health, and Mozart Sales, Secretary of Specialized Health Care, during the Rio Health Forum.

Massuda stated that the government intends to adopt confidential purchasing agreements with the pharmaceutical industry — a model already used internationally — to prevent price increases resulting from the public disclosure of negotiated values. Sales added that joint purchasing strategies between the public and private sectors could strengthen the country’s negotiating power and reduce fragmentation in demand for advanced therapies.

The Ministry highlighted that the high cost of some medicines, comparable to the investment required to build multiple basic health units, threatens the long-term sustainability of the SUS. The new model aims to introduce partnerships, shared negotiation forums, and updated procurement protocols to manage costs while expanding access to breakthrough treatments.

Source: Futuro da Saúde

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