Minas is the 3rd state that lost the most beds in eight years

Minas Gerais is the third state to have lost more hospital beds in the Unified Health System (USS) between May 2010 and May this year. The survey – conducted by the Federal Medical Council (CFM), based on data from the National Register of Health Establishments of the Ministry of Health – shows that 4,464 vacancies in the public health network of the United States. State have been disabled, accounting for 12 4% of the more than 34,200 that are no longer available nationwide.

In Brazil, 12 beds were deactivated daily during this period. The medical specialty that suffered the most was pediatrics, with 12,220 closed beds in the country. Then general surgery (-2.058) and general surgery (-1.771) appear. In Minas Gerais, 1,493 vacancies were disabled in pediatrics, with 231 closed beds in Minas Gerais

According to CFM physician Hermann von Tiesenhausen, the main factor responsible for the problem is the reduction of the transfer of resources. focused on health. "In the last eleven years alone, the federal government has stopped investing more than 174 billion reais, already budgeted in the health budget of the entire country. avoid this obsolete scenario, but unfortunately it was cut off. "

The CFM advisor indicates where this money is no longer used. "This is in the absence of a readjustment of the SUS compensation table to institutions – such as philanthropic hospitals, which account for 56% of the beds and depend exclusively on the transfer of government to operate and serve the population – and on medical pay, is very low, "says the specialist.

In practice, says the doctor, the impact on the lives of patients is immense. "SUS is the mark of all health in the country.There are more than 200 million Brazilians who can only be treated by him.The damage in the lives of these people are direct," says Hermann.

Regional data. The data show a decrease in beds in 22 states and 18 capitals. The Southeast region recorded the largest reduction, with nearly 21,500 missing in eight years – a decrease of 16% compared to the number of beds in the region in 2010. The State of Rio de Janeiro is at the top of the ranking, with the loss of 9,569 beds, followed by São Paulo, with 7,325 fewer vacancies.

In a note, the Department of Health states that, with respect to disabling the number of general hospital beds, "with technological advances, treatments that required hospitalization were to be done on an outpatient basis and home ".

According to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Ministry of Health shows that the English health system, a worldwide benchmark, has reduced by 30% the number of beds in the last decade. In addition, the federal agency ensures that it has focused its efforts on expanding the bed to treat the most serious and complex cases. In ten years, the number of vacant positions in the intensive care unit – which require increased structure and professional effort – would have increased by 671%, from 2,786 in 2008 to 21,483 in 2018. [19659002]

What are the possible exits for the I & # 39; inversion of this scenario?

As with medicine in general, we must work preventively. In this case, it is necessary to invest in information and awareness of patients about their rights in the public health network, through conferences and training by public and private agencies in certain places or even on the Internet, for example.

As soon as the patient arrives at the hospital and receives the diagnosis indicating that hospitalization is necessary, he or the companion must immediately require the registration number

We work with the 24-hour period, knowing that the patient was hospitalized for a period of 24 hours

Is there any a deadline for admission to the hospital? the patient must be hospitalized.