Secretary of State for Health Carmen Zanotto carried out her agenda in Blumenau, in the Itajai Valley, last Saturday (13). The head of the department met with President of Amve (Association of Municipalities of the European Valley) Mario Hildebrandt, Deputy Mayor of Blumenau Maria Regina de Sousa Soar and other leaders of the region.

The agenda of the Secretary of State for Health included visiting city hospitals and discussing Santa Catarina’s hospital policy. Photo: Michel Prada/Disclosure/ND

The meeting discussed the claims agenda prepared by the CIR (Regional Inter-Administrative Commission for Health), which agreed on joint solutions to meet the needs of the region. One of the main demands is to revise the policies of the Santa Catarina Hospital.

In addition, the leaders of the region demanded the creation of new intensive care units for children, newborns and adults, as well as access to children’s psychiatric beds.

“Our hospitals are excellent in terms of care and doing their job, but we need to give them more resources. This makes up for the lack of a regional hospital while acknowledging and supporting existing structures as they deserve it and meet the needs of our community,” says Mario Hildebrandt, President of Amve.

The agenda of the Secretary of State for Health included visiting city hospitals and discussing Santa Catarina’s hospital policy. Photo: Michel Prada/Disclosure/ND

Another priority presented is revisiting public co-financing in primary health care, expanding highly complex services in neurology and neurosurgery, regionalizing access to ophthalmology, telemedicine services, elective surgeries, and other requirements that may rely on public resources.

The management of the budget of public consortiums also through Apis (Agência Pública Intermunicipal de Serviços do Vale Histórico) was also emphasized. The secretary received a document detailing the agency’s requirements.

“We are here to listen and share information. We need to coordinate actions and look for resources to help. Each incomplete qualification in the region is an opportunity to seek payment for these services. These are valuable resources that we cannot help asking the Ministry of Health,” said Carmen Zanotto.

hospital visits

The Secretary of State’s agenda also included visits to three hospitals in Blumenau. At the Misericordia Hospital in Vila Itupava, the secretary got acquainted with the structure of the institution, which has two operating rooms.

Secretary of State for Health’s agenda included city hospital visits and discussion of Santa Catarina hospital policy – Secom/Governo de Santa Catarina/Disclosure/ND

Minister of Health’s agenda included visits to city hospitals and discussion of Santa Catarina’s hospital policy – Secom/Governo de Santa Catarina/Disclosure/ND

Secretary of State for Health’s agenda included city hospital visits and discussion of Santa Catarina hospital policy – Secom/Governo de Santa Catarina/Disclosure/ND

A new office is being prepared to expand the services of the hospital. The institution operates in the areas of plastic and aesthetic surgery, general surgery, orthopedics, urology, ophthalmology, varicose vein surgery, otorhinolaryngology, proctology and gynecology.

At HSA (Hospital Santo Antônio), the benchmark for pediatric care through SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) in Vale do Itajaí, Carmen visited the works in the pediatric oncology sector, which are in their final stages. The department provides 92% of services through the Unified Health System and has increased the number of operating rooms from five to seven, which has increased the flow of elective surgeries.

“We are ready to support the state in the demands of care. We have already expanded our oncology surgeries and with the new operating rooms we are ready to do even more,” said Rafael Branco Bertuol, CEO of HSA.

The agenda ended at Santa Isabel Hospital. The State Guide to Transplantology, in total, the hospital center serves 44 medical specialties. The visits were accompanied by Regional Health Manager Douglas Raphael and Deputy Mayor of Blumenau Maria Regina Soar.

“We understand that this convergence of the state with the municipality and hospitals is necessary for better and more efficient public health,” said the Deputy Mayor, who facilitated the visit.

In addition to the authorities from Blumenau, Secretary Carmen Zanotto’s visit was accompanied by Regional Health Manager Douglas Rafael, as well as Municipal Health Secretaries Gaspar, Francisco Hostins Jr. and Rodeo, Elder Depinay, and Apis Acting Director Elvis Santana.