Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts probes health budget add‑ons

The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) will examine the inclusion of R$ 5.177 billion in the health‑spending floor, consisting of R$ 4.29 billion in judicial precatórios and R$ 884 million of expenses from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The addition was made after the government re‑classified these items following the approval of the 2026 budget, contrary to the allocation approved by Congress.

Prosecutor Lucas Furtado requested the investigation based on a technical note from the Chamber of Deputies’ budget and oversight consultancy. Officials argue that the re‑classification violates the budgetary limits set by law, potentially reducing the real resources available for public health services in 2026.

The TCU’s inquiry follows reports from Folha de S.Paulo and Globo, highlighting concerns that the executive’s maneuver inflates compliance with the constitutional minimum for health spending while diminishing actual funding for health programmes.