Court orders State and Palmas to provide therapy for neurodivergent children

The Court handed down a sentence in an action proposed by the Public Ministry of Tocantins (MPTO), on Monday, 22, determining that the State of Tocantins and the Municipality of Palmas restructure neurological rehabilitation services and adopt lines of care for people with Neurological Disorder. Autism Spectrum (ASD).

The State is determined to restructure the intellectual and physical rehabilitation services provided in State Rehabilitation Centers (CERs) and to implement a line of care for ASD, with the entire structure of materials, equipment and human resources. In the court case, it was raised that the waiting time for initial care at a CER unit could be up to six months.

It is also determined that the State establishes a therapeutic plan for every patient, child or adolescent, with ASD. This plan must include which intervention standardized by the SUS will be applied or whether there is a need for an exceptional therapeutic approach, in this case, all necessary justifications must be presented.

The therapeutic plan must also specify whether there is a need to integrate clinical treatment with the school and home environment. The plan must be signed by a multidisciplinary team.

Regarding the waiting list, the sentence determines that the list of services at the CER, the number of patients on the waiting list and the waiting time for the first consultation and the start of treatment be added to the judicial process on a monthly basis.

In relation to the Municipality of Palmas, the sentence requires it to structure the health service and line of care, together with the State of Tocantins.

The measures must include health care for people with motor, neuropsychiatric disorders and syndromes, ensuring that diagnoses and treatments are carried out as early as possible.

The sentence specifies the different deadlines for each measure to be adopted.

The MPTO acts in the process represented by the prosecutor Araína Cesárea, with responsibilities in the area of ​​health defense.

The process is underway in the Special Court for Children and Youth of Palmas.