The Brazilian Government's mistakes in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

It is unfortunate to read the unsubstantiated and misguided opinion of a few physicians about the role of the current administration during the COVID-19 crisis in Brazil.¹ For those of the international scientific community who base their understanding on reliable data, the conclusion that Brazil has shown one of the worst responses to the pandemic is unequivocal.² The gravity of the pandemic in Brazil is evidenced by the current epidemiological facts: Brazil is among the three countries with the largest number of confirmed cases (more than 5 million as of Oct 15, 2020, according to WHO), with high mortality,³ evidence of underreporting,³ and a high number of deaths among health professionals, pregnant women,⁴ and the indigenous population.

The federal government's denial of science and, consequently, of the seriousness of the pandemic to the health and wellbeing of Brazilians has led to a failure to coordinate, promote, and finance internationally sanctioned public health measures. The ministry of health has not developed a national plan to combat the pandemic,³ nor has any other federal government agency. States and municipalities continue to be neglected and receive insufficient assistance. Influenced by political interests, the federal government has disrupted the flow of financial transfers and slowed the deliveries of essential supplies to certain regions. Furthermore, Brazil's public health system, Sistema Único de Saude (SUS), is the largest in the world and provides universal coverage without any cost to patients. It is accessible nationwide and provides community-based primary health care to more than 70% of the population. Yet, primary health care has been overlooked by the federal government as a key element in this public health crisis response. Financial emergency aid to the most vulnerable populations was gravely delayed, insufficient, and cumbersome to obtain. Moreover, the federal administration denies international recommendations for non-pharmacological interventions, refusing to establish a national mandate for social isolation and mask use.

It is necessary to analyse the Brazilian Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic based on trustworthy knowledge built upon scientific facts. The negative effects of governmental decisions represent important risks to the health of Brazilians and for the pandemic's global situation. A coordinated political response guided by social justice and evidence-based knowledge is essential to managing any public health emergency, especially one with as broad economic and health impacts as COVID-19. Regretfully, this is not what is happening in Brazil.