COVID-19 and Corruption—Governance Challenges and Legal Recommendations in a Crisis Situation

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 and corruption aspects in Brazil. The pandemic brought several possibilities and opportunities for corruption. There is a major concern that the large amount of public funds involved may be appropriated by private and public agents and undermine the movements to slow down the outburst, spread, and containment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country. Due to the state of public calamity, there was a legal “relaxation” of public procurement rules in the country. Unfortunately, corruption may thrive during times of crisis, particularly in developing countries such as Brazil. Corruption may damage government’s response to the pandemic and certainly denies people’s access to the public health system. It is a study based on current legislation and specific works on corruption in the health sector. The recommendations in this paper indicate that transparency and accountability mechanisms in the public procurement process through industry self-regulation in collective action projects may improve and strengthen battling corruption and the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Brazil, as legislative changes may be difficult to be implemented in a short period of time in the country.