Industry stronger in Brazilian policy body:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Brazil's national healthcare council (CNS, Conselho Nacional de Saude) has, for the first time in its 70-year history, elected an industry representative as chairman. Until now, the position was automatically filled by the health minister. The appointment of pharmacist Francisco Batista Junior is seen, by the government's own admission, as a key step in the strengthening and democratisation of the CNS, which has a significant influence on healthcare policy-making, nationally. The healthcare manufacturing and service provision sectors are each represented by six members of the 72-seat council.