The Parliamentary Front of Telehealth was created by the Chamber of Deputies in Brazil to address the problems and proposals on this modality of medicine that has managed to take strength during the pandemic in Brazil.
On 26 November, in Chamber of Deputies session pf Brazil, the Parliamentary Front for Telehealth was created. Telehealth in Brazil has agencies that promote such services nationally, such as the Brazilian Telemedicine Association founded almost 20 years ago, however, after the COVID-19 pandemic became more than a luxury, an opportunity to offer quality remote care to different populations.
Telehealth Front President Adriana Ventura explained: “The use of telehealth has the power to ensure that many people continue to have health care, remotely, and those without assistance, have access to democratize access to health.”
Moreover, the new parliamentary front has the approval of the National Association of Private Hospitals of Brazil (Anahp). Eduardo Amaro, chairman of the board of directors of that association commented that: "Even without proper regulation, the sector was mobilized, adapted and able to offer services and continue to care for the population. This is a path of no return and it is an evolution that has to pass", referencing that despite not being fully formalized and established telemedicine emerged as a useful tool during the pandemic in Brazil.
The Parliamentary Front will also be supported by the Anahp Telemedicine Working Group. In this regard, Eduardo Cordioli, coordinator of this working group recognized that countries such as the United States take years to advantage of Brazil in telehealth practices. However, he mentioned that “The authorization for the implementation of telemedicine was a very important step for the sector. Now, the expectation is that remote service will be regulated and there will be greater investment in technology.”
It should be noted that, at the beginning of the pandemic, on 20 March the Ministry of Health authorized telemedicine on a temporary basis and the Federal Council of Medicine has now proposed a new resolution for the regulation of these services at the national level.
