Commission finds Health Centers lacking structure.

Alagoas247 - Lack of infrastructure, delays in service, long queues, insufficient number of doctors. These are the main complaints of patients seeking care at the 1st Center of Health, in Praça das Graças, in the Levada neighborhood, in Maceió. The situation was also verified, on the morning of this Tuesday (08), by deputies Judson Cabral and Jeferson Morais, members of the Health Committee of the State Legislative Assembly, during inspections at the state health unit.

The deputies received complaints about deficiencies in the water supply, as well as leaks. The electrical network is compromised and the wires are installed improperly. The chairman of the Commission, Judson Cabral, said that the visit aimed to investigate the service conditions at the unit. 

"We are going to conduct a survey of the structural and service conditions of the unit." health"After the inspection, we will prepare a report that will be sent to the State Government, through the Health Department, summoning those responsible to find out what measures will be taken," he added. 

According to the representative, the situation at the Health Center requires urgent attention. If necessary, the report will also be sent to the State Public Prosecutor's Office. 

Regarding the works at the II Health Center, in Praça da Maravilha, Judson Cabral said that he will contact the Secretariat immediately. “We will demand a deadline for the completion of the works. The Assembly has the prerogative to investigate cases of this type and open investigations. We cannot consider such situations normal. These are elderly people, fathers, mothers, and children going through this humiliating situation,” said the parliamentarian, recalling that the Center has been closed for renovations since April 2010, when services were redirected to the I Center, overcrowding the unit.

The president of the Regional Nursing Council, Lúcia Maria Leite, accompanied the ALE commission and criticized the lack of infrastructure at the centers. “The unit doesn't have the necessary structure for care. People face long lines, wait in dirty places, standing. The Council has already carried out inspections at the Centers and has notified the Secretariat, but we have never received a response,” she stated.

On Tuesday morning, ten medical specialties were unavailable for appointments at the I Center, while 12 professionals were on vacation. 

In total, there are 137 specialized doctors serving patients in 19 consulting rooms available at the I Center. According to the coordinator of the Human Resources sector at the I Center, approximately nine thousand patients are seen per month. “On average, each specialty sees 30 to 40 people per day. The delays are due to the high demand, as the Center is very popular. The queues are long because the system that controls the scheduling of appointments and exams is slow, and because some doctors are absent due to vacations or leave,” she explained, noting that exam scheduling begins at 6:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm.

Dalva Santos Souza, a 52-year-old domestic worker, was at the I Center this morning for the third time, trying to schedule an appointment with an orthopedist. Once again, her search was unsuccessful, as there was a notice at the entrance stating that the doctor was unavailable for appointments at that location. “People have to come here every day. There are people who sleep here and still can't get an appointment,” she lamented. 

The housekeeper was also at the clinic on the day a security guard was murdered. “I came here with my grandson, who was going to be seen by a pediatrician. The appointment was rescheduled for the 10th,” she recalled.

Lack of accessibility also hinders service. Retiree Maria do Carmo Santana da Silva, 72, had to wait on the ground floor to be seen. The retiree uses a wheelchair, and the center does not have ramps or elevators to access the outpatient clinics, which are located on the first floor.

With gazetaweb.com