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| Luiz Henrique Mandetta | |
|---|---|
| Name | Luiz Henrique Mandetta |
| Birth date | 1964-01-30 |
| Birth place | Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil |
| Occupation | Orthopedic surgeon, politician |
| Party | Democrats (DEM) (formerly), União Brasil (later) |
| Alma mater | Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul |
Luiz Henrique Mandetta is a Brazilian physician and politician who served as Minister of Health of Brazil from 2019 to 2020. A trained orthopedic surgeon and former federal deputy, he became nationally prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic for his public disagreements with President Jair Bolsonaro over containment measures. His career spans municipal administration, legislative work, and roles within national health policy debates.
Mandetta was born in Campo Grande, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. He studied medicine at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul and completed residency training in orthopedics and traumatology. During his formative years he was influenced by regional political figures in Mato Grosso do Sul and by medical professionals connected to institutions such as the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology and the Brazilian Medical Association.
After graduation Mandetta practiced as an orthopedic surgeon, working in hospitals and clinics in Campo Grande and the surrounding region. He participated in professional networks including state-level health services and associations linked to private and public hospitals. His clinical work involved collaboration with municipal secretariats of health and coordination with agencies such as the Ministry of Health (Brazil) at the state level. Mandetta also engaged with medical education initiatives and continuing professional development programs connected to regional medical schools and hospital systems.
Mandetta entered elective politics as a city councilor in Campo Grande and later ran successfully for the Chamber of Deputies representing Mato Grosso do Sul. Elected federal deputy in the 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018, he served on commissions related to health and social policy in the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil). He was affiliated with the Democrats party and later joined coalitions and groups aligning with center-right figures and parties such as PSDB, MDB affiliates, and eventually forces that contributed to the formation of União Brasil. In the Chamber he worked alongside colleagues from states like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia on legislation affecting public systems and municipal administrations.
Mandetta was appointed Minister of Health by President Jair Bolsonaro in January 2019 and led the Ministry of Health (Brazil) through the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. His term featured coordination with state governors from São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, and metropolitan public health authorities, and interactions with international actors including the World Health Organization and health ministries of countries such as United States and China on technical exchanges. Mandetta advocated evidence-based measures like social distancing and mask usage, which led to public and political clashes with Bolsonaro and allies including Eduardo Bolsonaro and certain members of the Federal Senate who favored economic reopening. The tension culminated in his dismissal in April 2020 and replacement by Nelson Teich. During his ministry he negotiated vaccine procurement frameworks, sought support from scientific institutions including the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and the Butantan Institute, and addressed outbreaks of diseases such as dengue in states like Amazonas and Pernambuco.
Mandetta is associated with centrist and center-right positions on health policy, emphasizing technical autonomy for health administrators and partnerships with state-level secretariats such as those in Ceará and Paraná. He has been portrayed in national media outlets like Folha de S.Paulo, O Globo, and broadcast networks including TV Globo and BandNews as a technocratic minister who sought alignment with supranational health guidance. His public image was shaped by televised briefings, social media engagement, and debate with political figures in the National Congress (Brazil), leading to both praise from health professionals and criticism from political supporters of Bolsonaro’s more libertarian economic approach.
After leaving the ministry Mandetta returned to legislative and political activity, maintaining a profile in debates over pandemic responses, vaccination campaigns, and federal-state relations. He engaged with parliamentary groups, participated in hearings before committees in the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil), and collaborated with researchers at institutions such as the University of São Paulo and regional universities. Mandetta also explored candidacy considerations within parties including DEM and later alignments with União Brasil currents, while participating in conferences and public forums alongside figures from Brazilian public health, legal, and academic sectors.
Mandetta is married and has children; his family life has been reported in regional press in Mato Grosso do Sul and national profiles. He has received recognition from municipal councils and health organizations, including honors from bodies in Campo Grande and professional societies such as the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Mandetta’s awards and citations reflect service at the intersection of clinical practice and public administration, with acknowledgments from state legislative assemblies and civic institutions.
Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:People from Campo Grande Category:Brazilian physicians Category:Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from Mato Grosso do Sul Category:Health ministers of Brazil