State Department of Health

The State Department of Health (SES) participated in the event “Dialogues to strengthen health care in Santa Catarina: Primary Care, Urgency and Emergency Network and Mental Health” this Thursday and Friday, May 2nd and 3rd. The meeting, promoted by the Public Ministry of SC (MPSC), had a multidisciplinary approach. It was held in the Prosecutor of Justice Luiz Carlos Schmidt de Carvalho auditorium, in Florianópolis.

Photo: Silviane Mannrich Ascom/SES/SC

At the opening of the event, the Secretary of State for Health, Carmen Zanotto, reinforced the importance of dialogue for the construction of public policies. “Mental health is the most complex issue we are experiencing post-covid and with the closure of custody hospitals. We can no longer limit the number of mental health beds within general hospitals, because they are insufficient. We need to face the challenge of expanding these beds, so that we can maintain a multidisciplinary team with a psychologist, social worker, occupational therapist and psychiatric doctor.”

Furthermore, the correct routing of patients within the network according to the complexity of the care was another highlight of secretary Carmen Zanotto. “We also have, as in other Brazilian states, a designed network, but there is still a lot of deviation in the path. At the entrance of a medium and high complexity hospital, 70% to 80% of patients are green and blue, so we are failing at some point. Green and blue cases must be attended to, but what is their gateway? Hospital emergency or is it the UPA door? So if we don’t strengthen this entire network, we won’t be able to move forward in guaranteeing what is very important to us, which is Health”.

On the second day of the event, the Assistant Secretary of State for Health, Diogo Demarchi Silva, spoke about Health Policy and access to Medium and High Complexity services in SC – waiting lists and overload of the Urgency and Emergency Network.

Among the data presented, the number of elective and emergency surgeries carried out between 2023 and April stands out: 430,867 thousand. 163 ICU beds were also expanded and 81 new ambulances were delivered to SAMU. Furthermore, more than 80% of oncological surgeries are being carried out within 60 days, according to legislation.

“We aim to reduce waiting lists for elective surgeries, consultations and exams. Ensure priority care for cancer patients. Reducing waiting time and geographic distance for patient care also increases the resolution of the services provided,” explains Diogo Demarchi Silva.

Aimed at members and employees of the MPSC with activities related to the area of ​​Public Health and also to the external public, the event is a partnership with the Public Health Operational Support Center (CSP), the Center for Studies and Functional Improvement (CEAF), the Council of Municipal Health Secretariats of Santa Catarina (Cosems/SC), the Department of Public Health of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and the Interinstitutional Technical Chamber (CSP/MPSC and UFSC).