Photo: Adriano Machado - 16.abr.2020/Reuters

 

This Friday (15 May 2020), Teich resigned as Minister of Health, surprising everyone, including President Jair Bolsonaro. Teich took over the Ministry of Health on April 17, replacing Luiz Henrique Mandetta, and did not complete a month in this position.

 

During a meeting last Thursday, where the President demanded a change in the protocol to authorize the use of Hydroxychloroquine in patients with mild cases of COVID-19, Teich, who was already dissatisfied with Bolsonaro's conduct, argued that the use of this substance has no scientific approval and has many side effects. The following day Teich told the President he wanted to leave office.

 

Teich announced his resignation at a press conference and thanked the entire Ministry team and healthcare professionals for their work and the President for the opportunity. Below are extracts from his statement:

 

"Life is made of choices. And today I decided to resign. I can assure you that I did my best during the days that I was here for this period. Leading the Ministry at such a difficult time is not an easy thing to do. I thank my team who was always by my side. Always. This is the work of a great team. Managing health is the work of many people and of a great team. And I have had the honor and pleasure of having been beside those people who, like myself, I repeat, have always been by my side, have always supported me and have always worked hard for this country.

 

...

 

I also thank President Jair Bolsonaro for the opportunity he gave me of being part of the Ministry of Health. This was something that was very important for me. It would have been very bad for my career if I had not had the opportunity to act in the Ministry for the SUS (national health service of Brazil). I once wrote that I am an educated person, I was born thanks to the civil service, I always studied in public schools, my university was public, my residencies were done in federal hospitals. I was raised by the public system.

 

And the most important thing of all is the following. I want to clarify this. I did not accept the invitation for the position itself. I accepted it because I thought I could help Brazil and its people.

 

Thank you. I want to say that it is an honor to be here with all these people that were by my side the whole time. It is amazing."

 

The President is looking for someone in line with his speech to take over the Ministry. For the time being, the executive secretary, Eduardo Pazuello, will act as interim.

 

Joselena Andrade Pires

ALERT BRAZIL

joselena.pires@alert-online.com