key: cord-349624-2sypsfba
authors: Ferigato, Sabrina; Fernandez, Michelle; Amorim, Melania; Ambrogi, Ilana; Fernandes, Luísa M M; Pacheco, Rafaela
title: The Brazilian Government's mistakes in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
date: 2020-10-20
journal: Lancet
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)32164-4
sha: 
doc_id: 349624
cord_uid: 2sypsfba

nan

Submissions should be made via our electronic submission system at http://ees.elsevier.com/ thelancet/ www.thelancet.com Published online October 20, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32164- 4 1 The Brazilian Government's mistakes in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

It is unfortunate to read the unsub stantiated and misguided opinion of a few physicians about the role of the current administration during the COVID19 crisis in Brazil. 1 For those of the international scien tific community who base their understanding on reliable data, the conclusion that Brazil has shown one of the worst responses to the pan demic is unequivocal. 2 The gravity of the pandemic in Brazil is evidenced by the current epidemiological facts: Brazil is among the three countries with the largest number of confirmed cases (more than 5 million as of Oct 15, 2020, according to WHO), with high mortality, 3 evidence of underreporting, 3 and a high number of deaths among health professionals, pregnant women, 4 and the indigenous population.

The federal government's denial of science and, consequently, of the seriousness of the pandemic to the health and wellbeing of Brazilians has led to a failure to coordinate, promote, and finance internationally sanctioned public health measures. The ministry of health has not developed a national plan to combat the pandemic, 3 nor has any other federal government agency. States and municipalities continue to be neglected and receive insufficient assistance. Influenced by political interests, the federal government has disrupted the flow of financial transfers and slowed the deliveries of essential supplies to certain regions. Furthermore, Brazil's public health system, Sistema Único de Saude (SUS), is the largest in the world and provides universal coverage without any cost to patients. It is accessible nationwide and provides communitybased primary health care to more than 70% of the population. Yet, primary health care has been overlooked by the federal government as a key element in this public health crisis response. Financial emergency aid to the most vulnerable populations was gravely delayed, insufficient, and cumbersome to obtain. Moreover, the federal administration denies international recommendations for nonpharmacological interventions, refusing to establish a national man date for social isolation and mask use.

It is necessary to analyse the Brazilian Government's response to the COVID19 pandemic based on trustworthy knowledge built upon scientific facts. The negative effects of governmental decisions represent important risks to the health of Brazilians and for the pandemic's global situation. A coordinated politi cal response guided by social justice and evidencebased knowledge is essential to managing any public health emergency, especially one with as broad economic and health impacts as COVID19. Regretfully, this is not what is happening in Brazil.

We declare no competing interests. 

Brazil's COVID19 response

Lancet COVID19 Commission Statement on the occasion of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly

COVID19: public policies and society's responses. Quality information for refining public policies and saving lives

The tragedy of COVID19 in Brazil: 124 maternal deaths and counting

For more on COVID-19 in Brazil's indigenous population see