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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/63916
THE HEALTH INDUSTRIAL ECONOMIC COMPLEX (HIEC) AND THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM IN BRAZIL
Vacina
Programa Nacional de Imunização
Affilliation
Ministério da Saúde. Brasília, DF, Brasil.
Ministério da Saúde. Brasília, DF, Brasil.
Ministério da Saúde. Brasília, DF, Brasil.
Abstract
Introduction: Vaccines save a millions of lives every year, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, they
made a major contribution to reducing infections and enabling economic recovery in high-as well as low-
and-middle- income countries (LMICs). It is contested in the literature whether LMICs should focus on
creating domestic production capacity or importing cheap, quality medicines from abroad – the so-called
make or buy it debate. The network of entities involving the health industry, including pharmaceutical
companies, biotechnology firms, research institutions, healthcare providers, and governmental health
agencies are the main players at the Health Industrial Economic Complex. In the context of Brazil, the
HIEC plays a crucial role in shaping and supporting the National Immunization Program (NIP).
Objectives: Evaluate PNI vaccines supply chain suppliers and financing in 2023.
Methodology: Analysis of supplier data, quantities and economic values of vaccines through acquisition
contracts by the NIP for 2023.
Results: Currently, the program offers 51 immunobiologicals, with 64% of them are produced by the
public laboratories of Bio-Manguinhos and the Instituto Butantan. With 30% of products imported, the
department sees the need to advance national production and reduce dependence external. Between 300
and 400 million doses of vaccines are applied per year, and in covid-19 pandemic this supply practically
doubled, demonstrating the network’s ability to respond to an emergency. The Ministry of Health’s
distribution network covers 1 national centers, 27 states, 350 regional and 38 thousand of vaccination
rooms spread across the country. In terms of financing, the immunization program has obtained increase
in resources since 2014, essential for expanding the supply and improvement of the vaccination network.
In 2024, the budget was around R$10 billion for immunobiologicals, including vaccines against covid-19.
Conclusion: It is important to highlight the new politics of Ministry of Health, which establishes the
matrix of productive and technological challenges in health, brings the priority demands of the SUS
that will guide the National Strategy for the Development of the HIEC and promote the productive and
technological Brazilian development, to expand access and guaranteeing the supply of vaccines. Thus, the
HIEC aims to reduce the vulnerabilities of the SUS and expand access to healthcare for the population,
aiming to guarantee self- sufficiency in national production of the main strategic inputs, especially with
the involvement of public laboratories.
Keywords in Portuguese
Complexo Econômico-Industrial da SaúdeVacina
Programa Nacional de Imunização
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