April 2019
The Deliberative Council of Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) – after a meeting on April 5, 2019 – has joined other scientific institutions to express intense concern about the cuts in the Federal Budget announced by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance on March 29.
A reduction of 42.27% in the budget of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC), provided by the new Decree 9.741, poses a real risk to actions needed to address the country’s public health problems and the development of science and technology in order to guarantee the sustainability of SUS, the Brazilian Unified Health System.
The Deliberative Council believes that public health, education, science, technology and innovation should be considered as investments in a national project for the economic and social development of the country. In the context of increasing austerity measures, it does not only compromise the advances in research and development of products for Brazilian society, but also the country’ capacity to respond and prevent health crises, such as the recent outbreaks of congenital zika syndrome and yellow fever, which could only be faced due to the important scientific and technological base installed in the country.
Consistent with a vision of development with social inclusion and reduction of inequalities, the Council defends a State that supports a model of development that simultaneously involves the guarantee of social welfare, the consolidation of the Unified Health System, the strengthening of research, education, development and the national productive base, and the safeguard of democracy and rights.
