The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) promotes health and social development through scientific and technological knowledge. It is responsible for a range of activities including: research development; hospital and ambulatory care services; production of vaccines, drugs, reagents, and diagnostic kits; education and training of human resources; information and communication in the area of health, science and technology; quality control of products and services; and implementation of social programs.

With more than 7,500 employees, FIOCRUZ is the most prominent science and technology health institution in Latin America. It is attached to the Brazilian Ministry of Health and is active throughout the Unified Health System, the national public health system.