For a new engagement model between SUS and service providers

With a structure of ten care units in Belo Horizonte, Contagem, and Betim, Evangelical Hospital of Belo Horizonte, founded 76 years ago, has 75% of its capacity allocated to the Unified Health System (SUS) and 25% to planning healthcare operators and the private sector, It employs 2,600 employees.

Amid the expected changes of the next government, it is necessary to include the proposal of a new relationship model between SUS and service providers. Considered the best public health system in the world, given its scope and operational strategy, the system needs to become an ally for the good functioning of charitable hospitals and for the provision of quality services to the population.

SUS schedule update

The 14-year-old schedule of services can no longer be replaced by parliamentary amendments that solve important specific problems, but do not guarantee the cash flow needed to meet the high costs of an economic sector driven by technological innovation, sustainable management, qualified personnel framework and consumer confidence in the quality of services that require continuous investment.

With tight returns, any extra expense becomes a challenge. The increase in saline solution, in the first half of 2022, from $7 to R$50 per liter was a heavy blow to Evangelico Hospital and the clinics, since the input is needed to perform more than 1.5 thousand dialysis sessions per day.

additional expenses

In order to provide a quality service, Evangélico Hospital is also obliged to bear additional expenses for which there is no SUS incentive, such as meals for more than 3,000 patients in Evangélico Hospital’s four nephrology centers (Contorno, Venda Nova, Contagem and Betim). Service was interrupted during the pandemic, and service resumed five months ago to ensure they returned home – often after hours of travel – with minimal energy to face work and/or household activities.

What remains, then, is to turn to the financial system. But money in Brazil is still very expensive. With the Selic rate being maintained at 13.75% per annum and with no expectation of a decline, the renewal of already contracted loans takes a large portion of the operating results achieved, turning the profit into a huge loss.

investments

However, the investments could not stop. The expansion of the Contagem Kidney Center is a case in point. The opening is scheduled for next February and will meet the pent-up demand of RMBH. In fundraising, in addition to “Troco Solidário”, in partnership with BH Supermarkets in Betim, for the Betim Specialty Center, the campaign “Um Toque de Arte Muda o Quadro” aims to raise R$700 thousand for the conditioning of the room that will receive the first radiographic unit For breast implants in the institution, in the oncology unit.

The good news for Hospital Evangélico is to get benefactors involved in programs that allow for debt settlement, such as Refis, that have long terms at subsidized rates. And by the way, the institution does not claim any benefit. Such a mechanism already exists for large industries and large debtors, who use financing from compulsory deposits from banks, BNDES or FGTS, for example.