Senator proposes that philanthropic hospitals operate as private health insurance providers to fund the Brazilian public health system (SUS).
Private non-profit health institutions will be able to operate fixed-odds betting. Senator Dra. Eudócia (PL-AL) presented a bill authorizing philanthropic hospitals, social health organizations, charitable entities, and humanitarian institutions that provide services to the Unified Health System (SUS) to operate so-called fixed- odds betting.
The proposal establishes that these organizations will be exempt from licensing costs. All net revenue generated by the bets must be used exclusively to finance health-related activities. Information about the initiative was initially published by Lauro Jardim on Globo Online.
The funds obtained must cover the purchase of medicines, the acquisition of equipment, the maintenance of services, and the improvement of the institutions' infrastructure. The distribution of profits among the members of the organizations is prohibited by the project.
Financial control
Entities must maintain segregated accounting for betting operations. This measure aims to ensure transparency and allow for accountability regarding the use of generated funds.
The congresswoman stated that the initiative "seeks to create a complementary source of funding for institutions that serve the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System), given the financial difficulties faced by the sector, and cites international experiences in which lotteries and betting finance social areas."
Foreign models
The senator mentions cases from other countries where lotteries and betting finance social sectors. In the United Kingdom, the National Lottery directs part of its revenue to social causes. In Canada, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation allocates profits to areas such as health, education, and infrastructure.
The institutions that could operate the betting sites are private, non-profit organizations that work in the health sector and provide services to the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System). This includes philanthropic, charitable, and humanitarian organizations in the sector.
