Amidst the political wrangling over her position, the Minister of Health, Nicia Trindade, has received various manifestations of support from specialists in the Unified Health System (SUS) and social movements. It was lauded during the opening of the 17th National Health Congress, Sunday night (2), in Brasilia. 
The government denies it intends to interfere with health. However, the idea of replacing the porter is circulating amid negotiations for important votes in Congress, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva works to broaden his base of support.
Nísia declared herself calm regarding political pressures and defended her artistic role in the Presidency of Health, highlighting her approaches as President of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and her career as a servant of the SUS.
Minister of Health, Nicia Trindade, during the opening of the International Symposium on Specialized Health Care, on June 26, at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in Brasilia. Photo: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil
During the opening ceremony of the National Health Conference this year, the minister interrupted with applause and cheers of support for her name. A group of SUS workers took to the stage holding a banner in support of the minister. Necia spoke quickly to announce that the business was open.
The ceremony was attended by Ministers Sonia Guajara of indigenous peoples and Marina Silva of environment. On a trip to Bahia, Lula did not return to Brasilia for the event, as the conference organizers had hoped. He heads to the state for the ceremony, on Monday (3), to resume work on a section of the railway that runs between the city of Ilheos on the coast and Kaitei (BA) in the hinterland. The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Bahia, Jeronimo Rodríguez, who was accompanied by the President in the morning.
The XVII National Health Congress, which began on Sunday (2), in Brasilia, had its theme Ensuring rights, standing up for SUS, life and democracy – tomorrow will be another day. The event continues until next Wednesday (5), at the International Convention Center of Brazil (CICB).
Schedule
The conference is organized by the National Health Council (CNS) and brings together more than 4,000 delegates elected at regional conferences. They are discussing, in the federal capital, the country’s health methods.
According to the organizers, about 1,500 proposals and guidelines on population access to health and SUS promotion should be discussed and discussed. The measures adopted at the conference should serve as support for the preparation of the National Health Plan and the multi-year plan 2024-2027.
The program includes a space for integrative and complementary practices in health and also a cultural space, where there will be presentations such as cordial literature, theatre, poetry, soiree and performance in parade format.
The first National Health Conference was held in 1941. Since then, it has become the primary national space for public policy discussion and planning in the field of public health. In the eighth edition, for example, in 1985, guidelines for the establishment of the SUS were discussed and launched.
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