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Testing COVID-19 in Brazil: fragmented efforts and challenges to expand diagnostic capacity at the Brazilian Unified National Health System.
Kameda, Koichi; Barbeitas, Mady Malheiros; Caetano, Rosângela; Löwy, Ilana; Oliveira, Ana Claudia Dias de; Corrêa, Marilena Cordeiro Dias Villela; Cassier, Maurice.
  • Kameda K; Centre Population et Développement, Paris, France.
  • Barbeitas MM; Institut Francilien Recherche Innovation Société, Paris, France.
  • Caetano R; Centre de Recherche Médecine, Sciences, Santé, Santé Mentale et Société, Paris, France.
  • Löwy I; Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
  • Oliveira ACD; Centre de Recherche Médecine, Sciences, Santé, Santé Mentale et Société, Paris, France.
  • Corrêa MCDV; Associação Brasileira das Indústrias de Química Fina, Biotecnologia e suas Especialidades, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
  • Cassier M; Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Cad Saude Publica ; 37(3): e00277420, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1183703
ABSTRACT
Since the first recorded case of COVID-19 on February 26, 2020, Brazil has seen an exponential growth in the number of cases and deaths. The national testing approach has been insufficient to correctly use this tool in the support of containing the epidemic in the country. In this communication, we discuss efforts and challenges to scale-up COVID-19 testing at the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). This communication presents the initial results of the research project created to investigate the political, industrial, technological, and regulatory aspects that may affect the diagnostic and testing capacity for COVID-19 in Brazil. The paper draws on the review of academic literature, media publication, and collection of public data on tests purchase and regulation. It enlists initiatives to enhance PCR testing, national production and development of technologies, as well as regulatory measures to fast-track new tests. Our analysis indicates some points of reflection. Firstly, the lack of a consistent national strategy to fight COVID-19 exarcebated supply problems of diagnostic components. If the country was eventually able to circumvent this situation, it still faces a more structural dependency on the importation of diagnostic components. Secondly, the discontinued funding and distribution of tests may have implied health policy fragmentation and the growing importance of local governments and non-state actors to fighting the epidemics within SUS. Finally, initiatives established since the second semester of 2020 have expanded the testing capacity at SUS. However, it has not been sufficient to control the progress of the epidemic in the country.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Cad Saude Publica Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 0102-311x00277420

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Cad Saude Publica Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 0102-311x00277420