BRAZIL

On March 11, the Executive Branch published in the Official Gazette the enactment of the law that establishes the National Policy on Pediatric Oncology Care. The law was enacted with four partial vetoes among which is the implementation of the national policy by the health plans. According to the president, this obligation is contrary to the public interest since the rules issued by the National Complementary Health Agency (ANS in Portuguese) already cover pediatric cancer and are also permanently updated.

It also vetoed, among other things, the existence of state plans as a requirement for federal transfers in pediatric oncology actions. For the Presidency, “conditioning the transfers to the existence of state plans” is unconstitutional due to the current requirement of minimum health expenses, and they consider it contrary to the public interest.

It should be recalled that the law aims to increase survival, improve the quality of life and reduce mortality and treatment abandonment of children and adolescents (from 0 to 19 years of age) with cancer, through actions aimed at prevention, early detection and treatment of the disease, as well as social assistance and palliative care.

In addition, it considers that success in the treatment of childhood cancer depends on educational measures for early diagnosis and regulation, aimed at prompt referral to begin treatment in specialized centers, following clinical protocols.

The bill arose from a partnership between the Chamber of Deputies and the Parliamentary Front for the Prevention and Fight against Childhood Cancer, the National Confederation of Institutions for Support and Assistance to Children and Adolescents with Cancer (Coniacc), the Children’s Oncology Institute (ICI), the Ronald McDonalds Institute and the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Oncology (Sobope).