Lula Asks WHO Chief to Tell Trump: 'Healthcare Is Not for the Rich'

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has asked the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to relay a message to U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS). President Lula made this request during a visit to the Federal Hospital of Andaraí in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, July 28.

Lula stated to Ghebreyesus, "When you can talk to President Trump, who announced he was going to cut WHO funding, tell him how a president of a country that is not as rich as the United States manages to guarantee every Brazilian citizen the same healthcare that the President of the Republic will have." He stressed that Brazil's commitment to universal healthcare access is a point of national pride and a demonstration of equitable public service.

Furthermore, Lula urged the WHO director to inform Trump that "any poor person in Brazil can get" cancer treatment. He asserted, "Healthcare is not for the rich, it is for those who are sick. And we want to provide preventive care to avoid people getting unnecessarily ill." This statement underscores Brazil's dedication to ensuring that essential medical services, including advanced treatments like those for cancer, are accessible to all citizens, irrespective of their financial standing.

The president's remarks highlight a core principle of the SUS: healthcare as a universal right. By contrasting Brazil's approach with potential funding cuts to the WHO and emphasizing the accessibility of treatment for all, Lula aimed to present a model of public health that prioritizes equity and comprehensive care.