MP sues Justice to force Union, state and João Pessoa to regularize mental health network in Paraíba

According to the action, at least 17 people already have a court decision authorizing their release from the penitentiary, but they remain hospitalized because there are no vacancies in therapeutic residences that receive patients who cannot return to family life after discharge. Irregularities highlighted According to the action, the investigations identified three main problems: the lack of proof of the implementation and functioning of mental health beds, the lack of a fourth Type II Therapeutic Residence planned for the region and failures in planning, monitoring and articulation of the Psychosocial Care Network. During the investigation, according to the MPF, the municipality reported that the services were being implemented or close to being enabled. However, according to the action, "he did not present documents capable of proving the effective functioning of the beds nor the regular authorization with the Ministry of Health". According to the MPF, a technical inspection carried out in June 2026 by the State Department of Health, with the participation of the Ministry of Health and the municipality of João Pessoa, confirmed the irregularities. The report concluded that none of the existing mental health beds in the capital were authorized by the Ministry of Health and recommended measures to adapt the network to SUS parameters. What the Ministries ask the Justice In the action, the MPF and the MPPB request, as a matter of urgency, the implementation and operation of the fourth Type II Therapeutic Residence planned for the region, in addition to the entry into operation of mental health beds in general hospitals, which would have been agreed upon since 2013 and 2015. The bodies also request that people with a judicial decision to be removed from hospital be welcomed within 15 days and immediately included in the Network of Psychosocial Care. While the network structure is not complete, the action calls for temporary measures to guarantee service from the SUS. In addition, the Public Ministries require the authorization of therapeutic residences and beds with the Ministry of Health, the creation of the RAPS Municipal Conducting Group, the presentation of a schedule to correct the irregularities highlighted in an audit by the National Audit Department of the SUS (Denasus) and technical support from the Union and the State to the municipality. In case of non-compliance with court orders, the action calls for a daily fine of R$10,000. At the end of the process, the MPF and MPPB also ask that the Union, State and municipality be ordered to permanently maintain the structure necessary for the functioning of the Psychosocial Care Network. The bodies also request compensation for collective moral damage in an amount of no less than R$1 million. Most watched videos from g1 Paraíba