RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Health has sent a letter to the National Supplemental Health Agency (ANS) asking the health plans regulator to consider adding vaccines against Covid-19 to the list of mandatory coverage for operators.
The document’s contents were revealed by the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper and confirmed by the Ministry of Health to Estadão/broadcast. The prospectus does not provide further details on the measure.
Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said to Folha the measure opens the way for SUS (the national health service) to be reimbursed for doses given to users who have private health insurance coverage.
In addition, the inclusion of the vaccines in the coverage list would allow health insurance companies to offer vaccinations against the disease themselves. However, the minister acknowledged that operators could not purchase vaccine doses because supply is tight and laboratories do not negotiate with the private sector.
Today, the list of procedures of mandatory coverage in health plans does not include vaccines. The vaccination strategy focuses on the National Immunization Program (PNI) and private clinics.
The report contacted the Brazilian Association of Health Insurance Companies (Abramge) but had no response at the time of publication of this text.