Decree re-establishing Health Economic-Industrial Complex Group in Brazil takes effect

In effect since April 24, Decree No. 11,464/2023 has re-established the Health Economic-Industrial Complex Executive Group (Geceis). The group, which originally existed between 2008 and 2019 under the acronym GCIS, promotes cooperation between government entities and formulates measures to boost national research and development, production and innovation, as well as meet the strategic demands of Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).

The initiative is in line with the government’s goal of locally producing 70% of all essential inputs for the health sector (industry and services) by the end of the current administration’s mandate in 2027, as Health Minister Nisia Trindade has reiterated on several occasions since being appointed.

According to the new decree, the Health Economic-Industrial Complex consists of an economic, technological, and strategic base for producing medicines, vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, blood products, biotechnology products, medical equipment and devices, as well as products for making diagnoses, materials for use in health and for individual protection, goods and services for information and connectivity in health, essential services and technologies, and other products.

Strategic guidelines

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC) will coordinate the Geceis. It has the following principal guidelines:

• Reduce technological weaknesses regarding foreign markets within the SUS;
• Stimulate domestic production and innovation via a model that favors regional and global cooperation;
• Promote stability, stronger institutions, and collaborative partnerships and networks focused on production and innovation in the health sector;
• Establish regulations that stimulate local production and innovation;
• Promote greater legal certainty to facilitate investments in innovation and local production;
• Improve how the State uses its purchasing power to boost production and innovation directed at health initiatives; and
• Establish support networks and collaborative environments to strengthen specific competencies and capabilities, as well as the structure for developing the Health Economic-Industrial Complex (CEIS).

Geceis members and collaborators

Besides the MoH and MDIC, the Geceis consists of the following members:

• The Office of the President’s Chief of Staff and Secretariat of Institutional Relations of the Presidency of the Republic;
• The Ministry of Finance;
• The Ministry of Planning and Budgeting;
• The Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services;
• The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation;
• The Foreign Ministry;
• The Ministry of Education;
• The Ministry of Labor;
• The Brazilian Regulatory Agency for Private Health Insurance and Plans (ANS);
• The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa);
• The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES);
• The Brazilian Company of Hospital Services (EBSERH);
• Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep);
• The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz);
• The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI);
• The National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro); and
• The Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI).

The group will also rely on the collaboration of the National Health Council (CNS), the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC), the National Council of Health Secretaries (Conass), the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (Conasems), the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (Abrasco), entities representing the public and private productive sector, trade unions, and other entities that the MoH may eventually deem important.

Geceis responsibilities

The Geceis has until July 2023 to draft internal regulations. However, Decree No. 11,464/2023 establishes that the group must now conduct ordinary meetings every six months – extraordinary meetings may also be called in the event of an absolute majority quorum.

At the discretion of the MoH and MDIC, working groups may also be set up to develop and implement measures, mechanisms, or initiatives. Such measures can be approved via a simple majority quorum.

In determining which demands are a priority for the SUS, the Geceis will count on support from the MoH’s Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation and Health ( responsible for managing the Geceis’ Executive Secretariat), as well as other secretariats within the ministry.

For further information on the Geceis, please contact Mattos Filho’s Life Sciences and Healthcare practice area.