Brazilian Senate advances rare disease and disability support measures

The Brazilian Senate's Human Rights Commission has approved regulations for ‘supported employment’ aimed at people with disabilities or rare diseases. Known as the Romeu Sassaki Law, the proposal seeks to facilitate professional access, permanence, and career progression through individualized support. The text defines labor inclusion as ensuring equal opportunities for participation and growth in the job market.

Simultaneously, the Science, Technology, Innovation, and Informatics Commission approved a proposal to establish specific criteria for evaluating technologies used to diagnose, treat, or monitor rare diseases. Because these conditions affect small populations, making scientific evidence harder to gather, the new criteria will consider epidemiological characteristics, disease severity, and impacts on patient quality of life. The proposal also mandates that the Ministry of Health create a national system to integrate and share information regarding rare diseases.