Brazil advances cancer care and autism coverage policies

Brazil is seeing several legislative and policy developments regarding cancer care and autism treatment. In the Chamber of Deputies, Bill 3277/26 aims to modernize the Unified Health System (SUS) by prioritizing less invasive diagnostic methods, such as vacuum-assisted mammotomies, to reduce physical and emotional impact on patients.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has proposed the ‘Rede Brasil contra o Câncer’, which intends to establish cancer treatment centers in every Brazilian city with more than 150,000 inhabitants. This plan seeks to expand the geographic distribution of oncological assistance beyond the current 288 specialized units.

Regarding cancer statistics, the National Cancer Institute (INCA) projects significant increases in cases. Brazil is expected to record approximately 77,920 new prostate cancer cases annually between 2026 and 2028, while Paraná expects 126 new cancer diagnoses per day in the same period. Additionally, cervical cancer cases are projected to reach 19,300 annually by 2028, prompting a shift toward HPV DNA molecular testing in the SUS.

In a separate legislative effort, Deputy Robinson Faria introduced Bill 587/2024, which seeks to mandate that private health insurance plans provide full coverage for therapies required to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, based solely on medical indication.