Brazil increases access to bariatric surgery
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Brazilian health ministry has extended the national network of bariatric surgery units for severe obesity. Two hospitals were re-equipped to enable them to join the network: the Laura Wanderley university hospital, in João Pessoa, Paraíba, and the Ielar hospital, in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo state. Both will get an extra R$420,000 (US$263,000) per year to fund the additional activity. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40kg/m3 – or more than 35kg/m3 in cases involving other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea – and aged over 18, are eligible for the surgery. The network now comprises 77 bariatric surgery units.