Bolsonaro Appoints Another Military Officer to Brazil´s Health Agency Board

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Thursday, November 12th, President Jair Bolsonaro appointed Jorge Luiz Kormann, an army reserve lieutenant-colonel, to fill a position on the board of the ANVISA (National Health Regulatory Agency).

Before he may take the position, he will be required to undergo confirmation hearings in the Senate. The appointment was published in the Federal Gazette.

Currently, Kormann is the Ministry of Health’s deputy executive secretary, where he has been working since May when the government began to raise the number of military officers in key positions in the portfolio and even in specialized positions.

He was initially appointed to the position of program director. In June, during General Eduardo Pazuello’s administration, he became deputy executive secretary.

However, the military officer’s appointment has drawn the attention of ANVISA officials, due to the fact that he has neither training in health nor broad experience in the area.

The selection also occurs amid a political war spurred by Bolsonaro around vaccines against Covid-19.

A graduate of the Agulhas Negras Military Academy, [Brazil’s West Point] Kormann has a master’s degree in military science and a specialization in management and business administration, according to his resumé published on the Lattes platform. Kormann reports having been advisor in management and strategic planning at the Porto Alegre Area Military Hospital.

If confirmed, Kormann will be the second military officer on the current board of ANVISA, today led by Navy Rear Admiral Antonio Barra Torres, who is close to Bolsonaro.

In recent days, the agency’s decision to temporarily suspend the Coronavac vaccine trials, under development by the Butantan, an institute linked to the São Paulo government, was celebrated by Bolsonaro.

However, Barra denies political interference and states that the decision was taken by the technical area and complied with international protocols and agency standards. On Wednesday, November 11th, the agency approved the resumption of trials.

Kormann’s appointment means he will replace director Alessandra Soares, whose mandate ends on December 19th. Currently, Soares leads the agency sector that covers the management of medicines and vaccines. However, the agency says that the evaluation of these products is conducted by technical committees.

It further notes that this does not imply that he will be responsible for the same area, as a redistribution of responsibilities after new directors take office is common.

Recently, the Senate approved the names of new directors for the agency. In addition to Barra, who was confirmed as director-president, the list includes an ANVISA career servant, a member sponsored by the Centrão political bloc and a doctor who has advocated the use of hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19 on social media. Questioned by Folha, the doctor refrained from commenting on the question.

Source: Folha de S.Paulo