Brazil establishes National Health Strategy for the Economic-Industrial Health Complex

On July 21, 2026, Law No. 15,471/2026 was enacted in Brazil. First introduced as Bill No. 2,583 in 2020, it spent approximately six years making its way through Congress, with a series of adjustments and additions made prior to being signed into law.

Law No. 15,471/2026 establishes the National Health Strategy for the Economic-Industrial Health Complex (Ensceis), which has the potential to bring about significant changes in public procurement practices within the health sector. Targeting technologies, inputs, and products deemed strategic for Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) – many of which are currently imported – the law introduces new rules governing public procurement, healthcare project financing, healthcare regulation, and initiatives related to research, development, innovation, and technology transfers in healthcare.

One of the key developments concerns the creation of the ‘Strategic Healthcare Company’ (Empresa Estratégica de Saúde – EES) designation. Once accredited, such companies may benefit from new rules applicable to public bids and government procurement of products classified as Strategic Health Products (Produtos Estratégicos de Saúde – PES). In addition, the law reinforces and provides greater legal certainty to existing technology partnership arrangements – such as Productive Development Partnerships (PDPs), Local Development and Innovation Programs (PDILs), and Pre-Commercial Health Technology Procurements (Etecs).

For more information on this topic, please contact Mattos Filho’s Life Sciences & Healthcare practice area.

*With the collaboration of Isabella Schneider Dallolio.