Sex-change operations were mandated to be provided by the Brazilian public health system, in which the government has 30 days to fully comply with the new law lest they be faced with fines of $5,000 per day.

The Regional Federal Court agreed with federal prosecutors from the state of Rio Grande do Sul who argued that gender reassignment surgeries should be covered under the public healthcare system based on the constitutional provision that claimed medical care as a basic right.

As for who benefits from this new ruling is up to the local health officials. Other stipulations include patients have to be at least 21 and “diagnosed as transsexuals with no other personality disorders and must undergo psychological evaluation” for a minimum of two years, according to the health ministry.