Encontro da OUBS com o Ministro da Saúde Alexandre Padilha: diálogos sobre ciência, inovação e cooperação internacional

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On October 11, 2025, members of OUBS—including two former presidents of the society—participated in a meeting with the current Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, during the Ministry of Health's official mission to the United Kingdom. The visit aimed to strengthen partnerships focused on the Health Economic-Industrial Complex, expand the technological autonomy of the Unified Health System (SUS), and promote international scientific cooperation.

The meeting brought together Brazilian health researchers currently working in the United Kingdom. It was a time of rich and diverse exchanges: representatives from a wide range of fields—from epidemiology to psychology, from mental health to neuroengineering—shared their research, challenges, and prospects for collaboration between Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Among the topics discussed, the Ministry's interest in renewing and expanding partnerships with the NHS, the British public health system, which Padilha sees as "the big brother of the SUS." He noted that there is a renewed opportunity for more constructive partnerships aligned with the principles of strengthening public health systems.

The discussions proved especially fruitful for researchers working with medical devices and innovations in low-cost treatments, aligning with the ministry's efforts to develop accessible and scalable technological solutions within the SUS. One of the most discussed topics was precisely how to transform cutting-edge research into public policies and socially useful technologies.

There was also room to reflect on the paths for Brazilian researchers to return to the country, a topic raised by several participants. The minister highlighted initiatives aimed at supporting scientists and health professionals abroad, mentioning the importance of creating support and reconnection structures for those who wish to contribute to Brazil. Another point was the discussion on the integration of health databases and the potential of this unification for research in epidemiology and population health. 

The meeting reaffirmed the fundamental role of Brazilian academic communities abroad—such as the OUBS—in promoting dialogue between science, politics, and society, and in maintaining strong connections between knowledge produced abroad and the needs of the country.