Health radar: how Brazilians see health insurance

Health plans have been in the news recently due to the increase in monthly fees and the court decision that exempts them from performing procedures not listed in the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) list.

Even so, the majority of the population believes that they are necessary and would like not to depend only on the public network. According to a survey of 1,012 Brazilians commissioned by the National Association of Benefit Administrators (Anab) to the Bateiah Institute, 83% of people who have an agreement express great fear of losing it and 74% of SUS users wish to have this service.

The main barrier to having a plan, reported by more than 70% of respondents, is financial issues. The number 1 advantage of the agreements, in the view of the interviewees, is the quick access to consultations and exams, mentioned by almost 40% of the public.

Past: 60 years of the birth control pill

A milestone in contraception and female autonomy, the drug that prevents pregnancy became a sexagenarian in 2022. Since its introduction, the pill has been perfected, gained versions and other contraceptive methods have emerged. Today, the recommendation is that the choice of contraceptive be made with the gynecologist considering the patient’s history, health status and wishes.

Future: Brazilian molecule to regenerate the spinal cord

Scientists at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) have developed a protein capable of making nerve cells multiply and helping to treat paralysis due to spinal injuries and degenerative diseases. Polylaminin would be an alternative to stem cells and aroused the interest of the pharmaceutical industry for research in humans.

One place: Pollution linked to menstrual cramps in Taiwan

For the first time in history, air pollutants have been linked to an increased likelihood of women experiencing menstrual pain and other discomfort. After following Taiwanese citizens for 13 years, the researchers found that those who lived in polluted areas were 33 times more likely to have the upset.

A fact: 4 out of 10 diabetics hospitalized for Covid died

An analysis of 397, 6 thousand hospitalizations due to coronavirus infection found that 40% of people with diabetes hospitalized in Brazil died as a result of complications from the disease. The work, from the State University of Ceará, confirms the need for additional care, starting with vaccination, with this very representative group.

One sentence: Dora Kaufman

“The AI [inteligência artificial] has the potential to reduce costs and improve the overall efficiency of the healthcare system. Developing and improving models, however, is a minor part of the challenge, the main thing is to rethink the doctor-patient interaction, retrain professionals, (…) monitor and evaluate the impacts of technology, intermediating the areas of nursing and information technology. To protect patient rights, it is imperative that healthcare professionals and public policymakers are aware of the risks and are committed to controlling them.”

Dora Kaufman, PhD in Digital Media, in the book Demystifying Artificial Intelligence (authentic)