Brazil Government Suspends HIV, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Testing in SUS

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Health allowed a contract to expire and suspended genotyping tests in the National Health System (SUS) for HIV, AIDS (the disease caused by the virus) and viral hepatitis patients. The test is essential to define the most appropriate treatment for individuals who develop drug resistance.

The contract with the company that performed this test expired last November. However, the Ministry only announced a public notice on October 7th to look for a new service provider. But the process failed after the winning company failed to attach all the documents required by the public notice. The Ministry plans to hold a new public notice on Tuesday, December 8th. Should there be a successful tenderer, the service should be resumed only in January.

In a note sent to health services on December 3rd, the Ministry states that it will conduct this test only on children under 12 years of age and pregnant women with HIV and AIDS. On the other hand, hepatitis C patients should be provided with Velpatasvir and Sofosbuvir medications, which are more effective and do not require genotyping. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, a disease that attacks the immune system’s cells. However, having HIV does not mean that a person will develop AIDS.

National Health Counselor and representative of the National Articulation against AIDS (ANAIDS), Moysés Toniolo states that he was taken by surprise by the interruption of genotyping tests. He said that the portfolio did not report how many patients currently need this service.

According to Toniolo, ANAIDS is considering submitting the case to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF). “We have a large number of people who have been using the therapy for years and may need this test to stay alive,” he said.

Toniolo assesses that there is a “dismantling” of policies for people living with HIV, AIDS and viral hepatitis in the Bolsonaro government. He recalls that when he was still a deputy, Bolsonaro said he was against SUS funding the treatment of these diseases.

“It’s his/her problem (the patient)”, declared the current President in an interview to CQC program, of TV Bandeirante, in 2010.

Professor of medicine at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) and former president of the Brazilian Society of Infectology (SBI), Marcelo Simão Ferreira says the damage will not be great for patients of viral hepatitis, because some drugs are suitable for all genotypes of the disease, which means they do not require the test that the SUS interrupted.

“Now, it will be necessary for HIV. The HIV genotyping assesses the virus’ sensitivity to the various drugs we have,” he said.

Professor of infectology at the Federal University of São Paulo (USP) and SBI member, Paulo Abrão states that the unavailability of the test can “seriously” compromise the health of HIV patients. He states that planning is required to prevent the discontinuity of such services, in addition to the loss of rights achieved by patients. However, Abrão states that the Ministry’s solution for the treatment of hepatitis C is “reasonable”.

The Ministry of Health has not commented on the matter.