Mandetta

Luiz Henrique Mandetta (born September 15, 1964) is a Brazilian orthopedist, politician, and businessman. He served as the Minister of Health of Brazil from January 1, 2019, to April 16, 2020, under the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Mandetta graduated in medicine from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and specialized in orthopedics. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Hospital Management.

Prior to becoming Minister of Health, Mandetta served as a Federal Deputy for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul for two terms (2011-2019), representing the Democrats (DEM) party. During his time in Congress, he was involved in discussions and proposals related to healthcare policy.

As Minister of Health, Mandetta gained prominence during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. He advocated for social distancing measures and other science-based strategies to combat the virus, often clashing with President Bolsonaro, who downplayed the severity of the pandemic and opposed strict lockdown measures. His dismissal from the Ministry of Health in April 2020 was widely reported and followed by significant public debate about the country's response to the pandemic. Since leaving the government, Mandetta has been a vocal critic of Bolsonaro's handling of the health crisis.