"Taxing the super-rich strengthens the public health system and alleviates the burden on 99% of the population," says Alexandre Padilha.
Minister refutes criticism that government proposal creates division and defends redistribution as the basis for public health funding.
247 - In an interview with journalist Marcelo Auler of TV 247, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha defended the Lula government's proposal to tax the wealthiest as an essential measure to expand resources for the Unified Health System (SUS) and reduce the tax burden on the majority of the population. The minister rejected the idea that this debate constitutes a campaign of social antagonism, in the style of "us against them".
“First, I don’t see an ‘us versus them’ campaign. What I see is an effort by President Lula to reduce taxes for 99% of the population,” Padilha stated at the beginning of the conversation. According to him, the government’s strategy is based on the fair redistribution of the tax burden, focusing on the sustainability of public policies.
The minister explained that, in order to guarantee progress in the health system and expand the offer of free services, it is necessary to have a new revenue base. "In order to reduce taxes for 99% of the population and continue expanding resources for health, to be able to do what we have just done—bring a medication that costs between R$2.000 and R$5.000 for families, for the SUS (Brazilian public health system)—someone has to foot the bill," he pointed out.
Padilha emphasized that the focus of the taxation is on less than 1% of the population, with assets and income significantly higher than the national average. "What the president is saying is that those who will contribute a little more to healthcare resources are less than 1% of the Brazilian population," he said.
According to the minister, this effort towards fiscal justice is directly related to valuing life, access to science, and guaranteeing quality public health. "So it's a campaign in favor of life, in favor of science, in favor of a stronger SUS (Brazilian public healthcare system). For us to have a stronger SUS and reduce taxes for 99% of the Brazilian population, the top 1% can contribute much more to this."
By reinforcing the government's commitment to equity in public health funding, Padilha sought to dismantle the narrative that the proposal creates artificial social antagonisms. For him, it is a rational measure aimed at strengthening the State and social rights. Watch:
