Bolsonaro Denies Admonishing Health Minister, but Demands Widespread Chloroquine Use

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Thursday, May 14th, President Jair Bolsonaro denied that the Minister of Health, Nelson Teich, is at risk of facing the same fate as his predecessor, but said he demands that chloroquine be administered to Covid-19 patients from the earliest symptoms.

The statement was made during a video conference with entrepreneurs promoted by FIESP (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo).

Bolsonaro’s argument is that the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) now allows doctors to prescribe the drug for patients with mild symptoms. The Ministry’s protocol, however, follows medical associations’ recommendations and is more cautious: it authorizes its use in the SUS [national health system] only for hospitalized patients. Bolsonaro’s supporters have been demanding from Teich on social media to recommend the widespread use of chloroquine.

“I’m demanding the chloroquine issue now too. If the Federal Council of Medicine has decided that chloroquine can be used from the first symptoms, why will the federal government through the Minister of Health say it is only for severe cases? I am a commander, the President of the Republic, I’m the one who decides, who will go to any Minister and talk about what’s going on. And that’s the rule, that’s the direction,” said Bolsonaro.

Despite public demands, the President denied he is admonishing Teich, who will complete a month in charge of the Ministry of Health on May 17th. “I’m not driving out any Minister, I’ve never done that, and I’m not interfering in any Ministry, as I never have. Now, they voted on me to decide. And this decision about chloroquine goes through me,” he justified.

Bolsonaro said the protocol adopted by the ex-Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, can no longer be followed by Teich. Mandetta was fired because he disagreed with the President about social isolation measures and the use of chloroquine.

“Everything is okay with the Minister of Health. There is no problem with him. I believe in his work. But we will settle this matter. A protocol from March 31st, when the former Minister of Health was saying that chloroquine use was only meant for severe cases… can’t we change the protocol now? We can and will change it,” he said, “in agreement with the Minister of Health, because the Federal Council of Medicine says it has to be done that way”.

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