José da Rocha Carvalheiro is coordinator of the São Paulo State Secretary of Health's Research Institutes. In this testimony, he proposes structural changes to the state's Coordination of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health, for which he is responsible. He points out that the concept of innovation refers as much to policy shaping as it does to health goods. He also emphasizes the need to redefine the role of intermediary players (the states as units of the federation) within Brazil's unified health system, known as the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Remarking on Brazil's 1994 Conference of Science and Technology in Health, he notes how hard it is to fully institutionalize the area under the umbrella of the federal Health Ministry. Lastly, he explains why he is optimistic about Brazil's chances to firmly establish itself in science, technology, and innovation in health, and he lists the main challenges this goal presents.
Institutos de Pesquisa em Saúde; Health Research Institutes; SUS; São Paulo
