Piracicaba abandons consortium for SUS exams and resumes service at the Municipal Laboratory

Piracicaba abandons consortium for SUS exams and resumes service at the Municipal Laboratory The City of Piracicaba (SP) gave up hiring private laboratories, via a consortium, to carry out laboratory tests that were carried out by the Municipal Laboratory. Now, Unified Health System (SUS) exams will once again be carried out directly by the city hall laboratory. In June of this year, the city hall informed that there would be a restructuring of the Municipal Laboratory, which would no longer process the majority of exams and would start functioning as a screening center. Meanwhile, SUS laboratory tests would be sent to private laboratories through a Consortium. The city hall justified that the new model would be cheaper. However, in the same month, the Public Ministry of São Paulo (MP-SP) opened an investigation to investigate the 'outsourcing' of these public services without a specific tender. The procedure also aimed to evaluate the possible administrative, contractual, health and financial impacts of the change. ? Click to the g1 Piracicaba channel on WhatsApp Now, in August, the city hall reported that it backed down for three reasons, according to the city hall's response to the MP-SP, to which g1 had access this Monday (17): operational problems in the exams, recommendation from the Public Ministry and legal guidelines from the Municipal Attorney General's Office (PGM). Problems with exams Municipal Laboratory of Piracicaba (SP) Google Maps/Reproduction The city hall informed the MP that the implementation of the new model with the consortium was gradual. During this period, there was an increase in the sample collection rate (rework or new sample collection) and delays in delivering results. In response to the MP, the city hall said that the initial plan envisaged decentralizing emergency exams and reducing spending on this service by 16% through the consortium. However, after identifying operational flaws, the Municipal Health Department concluded that the best solution is to return to the municipal and centralized model, as it was before. According to the ministry, the measure should guarantee the quality of care, patient safety and more agility in clinical decisions. Given the measures adopted and compliance with the recommendations, the PGM requested the civil investigation into the case be closed. Exams will be carried out at the Municipal Laboratory of Piracicaba Disclosure/ City Hall of Piracicaba Transition and deadlines The city hall informed that there is still no single date for the system to start working only directly. According to the administration, the transition is underway with the following measures: Maintenance of services: during the transition period, all contracts still in force will be maintained to avoid any interruption in service to the population; Emergency hiring: procedures were opened for the emergency purchase of equipment, supplies and reagents necessary to guarantee the immediate operation of the Municipal Laboratory; Definitive processes: the administration has already initiated definitive bidding processes to ensure the maintenance of activities in the long term. Aerial image of the Paço Municipal de Piracicaba building Piracicaba City Hall VIDEOS: everything about Piracicaba and region M See more news about the region at g1 Piracicaba