Brazil Ministry of Health appoints new Digital Health Secretary

Maria Aparecida Cina da Silva has been appointed as the new Secretary of Information and Digital Health (SEIDIGI) within Brazil's Ministry of Health. She succeeds Ana Estela Haddad, who resigned at her own request to join the presidential campaign of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in São Paulo.

Cina, a physician with a background in psychiatry and academic research from the University of São Paulo, previously served as the deputy secretary within SEIDIGI. Her appointment is intended to maintain continuity in the department's strategic goals, specifically the digital transformation of the Unified Health System (SUS).

Under Haddad's leadership, SEIDIGI was established to move digital health beyond simple IT systems and integrate technology into the core of public health policy. A key component of this mission is the SUS Digital Program, which aims to use data and technology to improve health management and patient care.