Addressing the judicialization of health in Brazil

Abstract

In a recent ruling, the Brazilian Supreme Court has taken a step in the right direction to address the so-called “judicialization of public health” in Brazil (lawsuits demanding medicines, treatments, and other health benefits against the state grounded on the right to health recognized in the Brazilian Constitution). The decision in Extraordinary Appeal n. 657.718, concerning experimental treatments and medicines not approved by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), represented certainly an improvement on previous case law. Perhaps even more important, however, will be the decision of Extraordinary Appeal n. 566.471, on socalled high-cost medicines, whose judgement will soon be resumed (so far three ministers have already voted). An adequate decision in this second Extraordinary Appeal could complement the first so as to provide a practically definitive solution to the problem of the judicialization of public health in Brazil. This article analyzes the decision of the Extraordinary Appeal n. 657.718 and the votes cast so far in the Extraordinary Appeal n. 566.471, suggesting important adjustments in the latter’s decision without which, in my opinion, the opportunity to address the judicialization of health in Brazil could be wasted.