Brazil loses second health minister in less than a month as Covid-19 deaths rise.
Brazils health minister has abruptly resigned after less than a month on the job and a day after the country announced it had recorded nearly 14,000 deaths.
The sudden resignation of Nelson Teich was announced in a curt WhatsApp message from the health ministry on Friday morning, and is likely to deepen the turmoil around Brazils flailing response to the pandemic.
Teich was Brazils second health minister to leave office in less than a month.
His popular predecessor, Luiz Mandetta, was fired by he countrys far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro,on 16 April following disagreements over social isolation measures, which Bolsonaro has dismissed as unnecessary.
News of Teichs resignation was greeted with dismay by doctors fighting the virus. Albert Ko, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine blamed the lack of leadership and poor governance.
Teich was Brazils second health minister to leave office in less than a month.
His popular predecessor, Luiz Mandetta, was fired by he countrys far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro,on 16 April following disagreements over social isolation measures, which Bolsonaro has dismissed as unnecessary.
News of Teichs resignation was greeted with dismay by doctors fighting the virus. Albert Ko, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine blamed the lack of leadership and poor governance.
On taking office, Teich initially appeared to follow Bolsonaros line, arguing that bolstering Brazils economy was as important as controlling the pandemics growing death toll.
But in recent weeks Teich had increasingly disagreed with Bolsonaro over social isolation and the use of the malaria drug chloroquine to treat coronavirus.
The Brazilian president has enthusiastically backed using the drug, despite a string of medical studies showing that it has no positive effect on people suffering Covid-19, and can possibly cause other health complications.
On Thursday Bolsonaro announced that he wanted to change the protocol regulating the use of chloroquine that Mandetta had introduced.
Teich was publicly embarrassed on Monday when he discovered during a press conference that the president had issued a decree that classified gyms, beauty salons and barbers as essential services.
But in recent weeks Teich had increasingly disagreed with Bolsonaro over social isolation and the use of the malaria drug chloroquine to treat coronavirus.
The Brazilian president has enthusiastically backed using the drug, despite a string of medical studies showing that it has no positive effect on people suffering Covid-19, and can possibly cause other health complications.
On Thursday Bolsonaro announced that he wanted to change the protocol regulating the use of chloroquine that Mandetta had introduced.
Teich was publicly embarrassed on Monday when he discovered during a press conference that the president had issued a decree that classified gyms, beauty salons and barbers as essential services.