The government will settle debts in the health sector with the 139 cities.

Tocantins 247 - The governor of Tocantins, Marcelo Miranda, announced on Tuesday (31) that the executive will settle debts from agreements and contracts in the health sector with the 139 municipalities. The debt with the municipalities currently totals R$ 38,5 million. With the agreement, the State will immediately settle the debts with 127 municipalities, which will receive the resources in one payment, and the other 12 municipalities in 27 installments. Thus, starting in June, the government will make the monthly transfers and pay 1/27 of the amount owed to the cities that do not receive the amounts in one payment. The announcement was made during the launch of the Tocantins State Health Care Agreement (PASE/SUS), which aims to encourage and stimulate the strengthening of Primary Care and Health Surveillance. More than 1,5 million users of the Unified Health System (SUS) in Tocantins will benefit through the integration of primary care and municipal health surveillance services. 

“We are celebrating the mutual commitment between the State and municipalities, which will help transform healthcare services in Tocantins. An agreement that will strengthen basic care, improving services in all 139 municipalities of Tocantins. Public health cannot be promoted without resources, without money for investment,” emphasized Marcelo Miranda.

The expectation is that PASE/SUS will amplify the positive impact on hospital care in the state by reducing referrals of users from municipalities to hospitals, especially to large hospital units.

The agreement also aims to strengthen local and regional health actions in municipal care, for the maintenance of basic pharmaceutical assistance; purchase of complementary supplies for insulin-dependent users and mental health medications; maintenance of Small Hospitals (HPP), Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu); 24-Hour Emergency Care Units (UPA); and Psychosocial Care Centers (Caps).

The representative from the Ministry of Health, Alan Sousa, reported that Tocantins has the second-highest coverage in Family Health in the national ranking. He then listed a series of challenges that Brazil faces in ensuring quality healthcare for its population.

Adherence to Pase-SUS will be done through the municipal health secretariats, requiring compliance with the Strategic Indicator Agreements at the municipal and regional levels for 2016, in addition to municipal managers having to promote the continuous improvement of the quality and effectiveness of primary care, through the integrated support of the State Health Secretariat.

Improvements

For the mayor of Brasilândia and president of the Tocantins Association of Municipalities (ATM), João Emídio, the moment represents progress for healthcare in Tocantins. "It is a joy to be here to receive the benefits from the State Government. The payment of the funds, which have been delayed since 2012, and the agreement we signed today, represent an important step for the municipalities and their administrators, who now have the opportunity to advance improvements in public health," he said.

The Municipal Health Secretary of Palmas, Nésio Fernandes, emphasized that the agreement plays a democratic role in guaranteeing the population's access to quality public health. "Public health is the result of the struggle of the Brazilian people. We are very happy with this agreement that we signed here today," he concluded.