In the afternoon of 08/07, the national coordinator of the Telemedicine University Network (Ruth), and president of the Brazilian Association of Telemedicine and Telehealth (ABTms), Luiz Ary Messina, were invited to speak at the public hearing of the Committee for Social Security and Family, at the House of Representatives, to discuss the Bill 1998/2020 regarding the Telemedicine after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The online meeting also included presentations by: the president of the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB), César Eduardo Fernandes, the 1st vice-president of the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), Donizetti Dimer Giamberardinho Filho, the executive director of the National Association of Digital Certification (ANCD), Egon Schaden Junior, the president of the National Federation of Physicians (Fenam), Gutemberg Fialho, the president of the Brazilian Society of Informatics in Health (SBIS), Luiz Gustavo Gasparini Kiatake, and the associate director of the Board of Industry Development (DIDES) of the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), Peter Silveira Villela.

Everyone was in favor of regulating the practice of Telemedicine in the country and listed the main points that need to be prioritized in the discussions, among them, the teleconsultation modality, considering the issues of the first consultation, territory, and remuneration, in addition, security, personal certificates, and electronic prescription.

During his speech, the national coordinator of RUTE drew attention to the need for a legal framework that can guarantee a National Public Policy of Telemedicine and Telehealth capable of developing four fundamental points.

 "I stand by four points as key in the structuring of the entire digital health practice in the country: 1 - A proper cyberinfrastructure in all points of demand, particularly in the structure of SUS.  2 - That interoperability between systems is a priority, with resources to establish this practice in all three levels: federal, state and municipal.  3 - The fundamental importance of guaranteeing the training, proper education of all healthcare and related professionals. 4 - The importance of well-structured governance at all levels. We need to ensure investments for universalization," said Messina, who also highlighted the importance of aligning all Federal Councils of activities related to health so that the practice becomes universal in the entire country.

"Over the last two terms (2020 and 2021), at ABTms, we have carried out intensive work with the Federal Councils of health professions because we understand that the guidelines and regulations of the Councils will guide the best path to achieve universalization in SUS and all health practices".

Watch the full public hearing: