Deputy expects government accountability to people with Hepatitis C

The Deputy Chico D'Angelo

Last August, the national representative Chico D’Angelo (PT-RJ) inquired the minister of Health, Ricardo Barros (read the full article here), during a public hearing at the House of Representatives’ Committee on Social Security and Family (CSSF) about national pharmaceutical industry and drug import practices. Seizing the episode, we sent the representative three questions about the incorporation of new medicines for hepatitis C in Brazil. Check the questions sent and D’Angelo’s answers.

What do you expect from this government when it comes to the incorporation of new medicines for hepatitis C?

I hope the current government has responsibility and commitment to the Public Health, first and foremost with those who are infected with hepatitis C.

Nowadays, the lead drug on the treatment of hepatitis C in Brazil costs around U$ 3,000 the full treatment. Do you believe that compulsory license might be the solution to cheapen costs of the medicine?

We already had in past, positive experiences with compulsory license, at that time that José Gomes Temporão was the Brazilian Minister of Health. Compulsory license would be a way to guarantee universal access on the treatment of hepatitis C.

How could the parliament help pressure the government on improving access to the treatment of hepatitis C?
The current “government” holds large majority in Congress. The way we, who belong to the opposition could help on the issue would be by pressing them to hold more public hearings, by releasing policy statements reporting the abuses ongoing, by presenting warning letters at the parliament against the situation we are facing and by using the means available to try to halt government actions which harm the population.