Lula Launches Nationwide SUS Mutirão to Tackle Healthcare Backlogs
Brasília, DF – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva today participated in the launch of a nationwide initiative aimed at drastically reducing wait times for specialized medical care within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).The “Agora Tem Especialistas” (Now There are Specialists) mutirão – a coordinated effort involving 45 university hospitals across 24 states and the federal District – seeks to deliver over 29,000 exams, consultations, and surgeries.
The initiative addresses a critical bottleneck in Brazil’s public healthcare system, where access to specialists has been hampered by lengthy queues and limited resources. By mobilizing university hospitals and incorporating private healthcare providers with outstanding tax debts, the government aims to expand access to essential services in high-demand areas like oncology, gynecology, cardiology, ophthalmology, and otorhinolaryngology. This marks a key step in the Lula administration’s commitment to strengthening the SUS and ensuring equitable healthcare access for all Brazilians.
At the University Hospital of Brasília (HUB), Lula was joined by Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, Education Minister Camilo santana, and Arthur Chioro, president of the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh).The “day and” operation will encompass 1,900 elective surgeries,22,700 exams and procedures,and 4,400 consultations.
The launch event included a live broadcast connecting Lula and his ministers with university hospitals in Belo Horizonte (MG), Belém (PA), São Luís (MA), Goiânia (GO), and Curitiba (PR). The program represents a broader strategy to reinforce joint efforts and reduce waiting times within the public network, according to the federal government.
