Danielle Jinkings      Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – At the annual ceremony last week on Ash Wednesday for the rollout of this year's Fraternity Campaign by the National Confederation of Catholic Bishops (“CNBB”), the minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, responded to criticism of the public health system and recent cuts in his budget by pointing out that even after the recent budget cut of some R$5.4 billion announced by the government, he has R$72 billion, which is 17% more funding than he had last year.

 “The nominal increase of R$13 billion over our funding last year is the biggest the Ministry of Health has received since the year of 2000, and it means that none of our programs will be affected,” the minister emphasized.

Padilha went on to say that with the theme of the Fraternity Campaign this year focused on the public health system he was certain the discussion of funding for the system would have more insight and depth.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - CNBB escolhe saúde pública como tema da Campanha da Fraternidade e critica corte do Orçamento