Brazil's Ceara gets surgery fillip:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Brazilian state of Ceara is to receive an extra R$1m (US$462,000) to help it reduce elective surgery waits in so-called mid-to-high complexity specialisms. Of the 84 surgery procedures classed as elective, the most common include adenoidectomy, cataract, hernia, prostatectomy and hysterectomy. The incentivising force behind the programme is the federal funding mechanism: The state's 28 municipalities are under pressure to ensure that demand for each of the specialisms is assessed and managed precisely, since the funding is guaranteed, but subject to at least 70% of demand being met - failing that, the federal contribution is withdrawn.