The participation of patients and society is essential to broaden the dialogue on access to innovation in healthcare. Learn how to contribute to ANS Public Consultation No. 177, which is open for contributions on proposed updates to the List of Health Procedures and Events (Rol de Procedimentos e Eventos em Saúde).

Did you know that you can contribute directly to discussions that may influence health policies and access to treatments in Brazil?

Public Consultations are important instruments of social participation, allowing patients, family members, healthcare professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders to share their experiences, opinions, and contributions on topics relevant to the healthcare system.

To make these opportunities easier to access, the Instituto Projeto Cura has created a section on its website dedicated to Public Consultations in oncology. The space brings together consultations open for participation and will be continuously updated as new opportunities to contribute arise.

Among the featured consultations is ANS Public Consultation No. 177, which addresses proposed updates to the List of Health Procedures and Events, including discussions related to precision medicine in breast cancer.

The consultation is open for contributions until September 28, 2026, through the official channel of the Brazilian National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS).

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Precision medicine: more information for individualized decisions in breast cancer

Precision medicine is an approach that seeks to take into account the specific characteristics of each patient and their disease to support decisions on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

In breast cancer, genomic tests are tools that can help assess the risk of disease recurrence and estimate the potential benefit of chemotherapy in certain groups of patients.

One of the available tests analyzes 21 tumor genes, providing information that, when combined with clinical and pathological data, can help the medical team define a more individualized treatment strategy.

The goal is to add information to the clinical assessment, supporting more precise decisions and helping ensure that each patient receives a treatment recommendation suited to the characteristics of their case.

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What do studies show about genomic tests?

Published studies demonstrate the impact of genomic tests on clinical decision-making and treatment recommendations for breast cancer patients.

Among the data presented on the 21-gene test, the following stand out:

• 58% of patients at high clinical risk could have avoided chemotherapy, according to the data presented.
• 37% change in treatment recommendations, highlighting the potential of this information to support clinical decisions.
• 39% relative reduction in chemotherapy indications, demonstrating the potential impact on treatment choice.

These results help contextualize the importance of precision medicine in oncology. By adding genomic information to the clinical assessment, these tests can help identify patients who would potentially benefit from chemotherapy and those for whom other treatment strategies may be considered.

It is important to note that the results do not represent an individual treatment recommendation. The indication of any therapy must be evaluated by the medical team, considering the clinical, pathological, and other relevant information of each patient.

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Why does ANS Public Consultation No. 177 deserve attention?

Updating the ANS List of Health Procedures and Events is a process that involves discussions on the incorporation and coverage of procedures within supplementary (private) healthcare.

In this context, Public Consultation No. 177 is an opportunity for society to contribute to the discussions on the proposals under evaluation, including information and perspectives related to precision medicine in breast cancer.

The participation of patients, family members, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders is important to broaden the debate, bringing different experiences and evidence that can contribute to the analysis of the proposal.

Taking part in a Public Consultation is a way to exercise citizenship and contribute to discussions involving access to healthcare. Each contribution can help give visibility to patients' needs and to the importance of considering scientific evidence in the assessment of health technologies.

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How to participate in ANS Public Consultation No. 177?

Public Consultation No. 177 accepts contributions through the official ANS channel until September 28, 2026.

To participate, it is important to understand the topic under discussion, review the documents made available by the Agency, and submit your contribution directly on the official platform.

The Instituto Projeto Cura also offers, on its website, a section dedicated to Public Consultations in oncology, making it easier to follow participation opportunities.

Access the participation channels:

• ANS Public Consultation No. 177 – contribute through the official ANS channel
• Public Consultations in oncology – Instituto Projeto Cura

On the Cura website, you can follow open consultations, learn about the topics under discussion, and find opportunities to participate. The page will be continuously updated as new public consultations related to oncology become available.

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Information and participation to transform access to healthcare

The Instituto Projeto Cura believes that access to information and social participation are essential to strengthening dialogue among patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, managers, and other stakeholders in oncology.

By bringing open Public Consultations together in a single space, Cura seeks to make these discussions more accessible to society and to encourage informed participation in topics that may impact cancer care in Brazil.

Follow the Public Consultations in oncology on the Instituto Projeto Cura website and take part in the discussions shaping the present and future of cancer care.

Visit: www.projetocura.org/advocacy

Informational content. Information about health technologies does not replace individualized assessment by the medical team. Participation in public consultations does not guarantee the incorporation of technologies or changes to coverage rules.