IVAN FELIZARDO CONTRERA TORO
In recent days, we have witnessed a heated clash, to say the least, between the Minister of Health, engineer Ricardo Barros, and doctor Sílvia Brandalise, president of the Boldrini Children's Center. It is impossible not to take part in this discussion, when we realize that, in an attempt to justify the Ministry of Health's attitudes regarding the purchase of a Chinese-made medicine for the treatment of Acute Lymphoid Leukemia in children, the minister suggests that Dr. Brandalise has other, hidden interests in purchasing a German version of the same medicine.
I was a graduate student of Professor Brandalise at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Unicamp and I have followed her fight for children with hematological and neoplastic diseases since the 1970s. And today, in my position as director of this medical school, I cannot conceive the possibility that she is a victim of this type of gratuitous aggression, carried out by someone who, at the very least, is unaware of her representativeness and importance, as a public figure with a major impact on Brazilian health.
Great teacher, over the last 40 years Dr. Sílvia had a decisive influence on the training of thousands of doctors and residents. She has published hundreds of scientific articles, as well as many books and teaching and educational materials on cancer, and has received recognition from academia and society for her expertise and activism in this area.
In recent decades, since the Boldrini Center was founded in 1978, it has spared no effort and fought in all spheres of public power, public and private institutions, national and international, to improve treatments, increase survival and quality of life of your patients.
Currently, more than 7.000 patients who survived cancer during childhood, thanks to the treatment they received at Boldrini, can attest that Dr. Brandalise, a long time ago, went beyond any personal interest.
Anyone who thinks that Dr. Brandalise became rich over the years by treating wealthy patients and participating in deals to purchase medicines and equipment. Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit the Boldrini Children's Center knows that everyone is treated equally there, rich or poor, with or without medical insurance coverage.
Anyone who lives in Campinas and knows her more intimately knows that she moves around with a car that is more than 10 years old, and that her residence, despite offering some comfort, is a far cry from the ostentatious yachts and private jets so commonly used by deputies. , senators and ministers from the Central Plateau. I can attest, without a shadow of a doubt, that her greatest asset is the pleasure of being able to participate in what she believes is best for children's health.
Could any minister at the head of the Ministry of Health present a more favorable CV than Professor Brandalise's, when it comes to childhood cancer? Would any minister give a medicine without proven efficacy to his children and grandchildren, if necessary? Could it be that the reason why many mothers “are terrified of Chinese medication", as the Minister of Health stated in recent interviews, is due to the exaggerated boast made by Professor Brandalise, or could it be that this concern resides in the instinct of father and mother, that they do not Should you play economy with your children's health?
I am sure that the medical academy, Campinas residents and all those who have already been under the care of the Boldrini Children's Center know who is right in this episode.
■ ■ Ivan Felizardo Contrera Toro is director of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the State University of Campinas
Published on January 17, 2018, Correio Popular, page 2, Opinion
