SUS National Force opens Rio de Janeiro base for climate emergencies

A new regional base for the SUS National Force (FN-SUS) has been inaugurated in Rio de Janeiro to manage public health emergencies and climate-related disasters across the Southeast region of Brazil. The facility, located at the headquarters of the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), aims to significantly reduce response times during crises such as floods, landslides, heatwaves, forest fires, and epidemics.

Health Minister Alexandre Padilha stated that the decentralization of the force increases its rapid response capacity by up to 20 times, allowing teams to reach any location in the Southeast within 12 hours. The base is equipped with advanced medical posts, satellite communication, drones, and specialized vehicles to assist in remote or difficult-to-access areas.

This is the third FN-SUS base in the country, following existing units in Porto Alegre and Salvador. The Brazilian government plans to establish six additional bases by the end of the year to cover the remaining regions of the country.