Brasília, November 8, 2023: The Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Loyce Pace, and Ambassador Alexandre Ghisleni from the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Health, chaired a Brazil – U.S. Bilateral Health Forum, hosted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health on October 31. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Mandy Cohen, was one of the principal members of the U.S. delegation led by Assistant Secretary Pace to attend the Forum, along with representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). The Brazilian delegation included the participation of the Secretary of Health Surveillance and Environment, Ethel Maciel, and representatives from various bodies, including the Brazilian Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and the Butantan Institute.
The Forum provided an opportunity for both countries to discuss challenges, alignment of priorities, opportunities for cooperation, and innovations in health. During the panels, interlocutors discussed strengthening collaboration in health, including sexual and reproductive health rights, biomedical research, strengthening primary healthcare and health workforce, regulatory harmonization and convergence, strengthening health systems for disease control and elimination, and sharing lessons learned and best practices.
“Today’s Bilateral Health Forum is a demonstration of how Brazil and the United States come together and join forces to be our highest and best selves. The interplay between what we do bilaterally related to our mutual health priorities and how that affects the region is an exciting message of our partnership. Our relationship spans decades and we can fully lean into our respective roles”, stated Assistant Secretary Pace.
Ambassador Ghisleni emphasized “This Forum is a celebration of the U.S.- Brazil friendship. We are enthusiastic for cooperating with the United States bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally. We can identify the challenges, the views on each side, and develop what we can do together.”
In addition to the event in Brasília, Assistant Secretary Pace met with representatives from the Butantan Institute. They discussed priorities related to the local production and manufacturing of vaccines, as well as potential partnerships. To conclude the trip, the U.S. delegation met with Fiocruz, a long-standing partner. They visited the campus facilities where they could observe activities and research supported by HHS Operating Divisions, including CDC and NIH.
