Rio hospital operates at three times its capacity.

Vitor Abdala - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The emergency room at Getúlio Vargas State Hospital, in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro, is facing overcrowding problems. According to the State Health Department itself, which is responsible for the unit, the number of people seeking care there is three times greater than its capacity.

With the federal hospital strike in recent days, the health department reported that the problem has worsened, and the number of patients seeking emergency care at Getúlio Vargas Hospital is now four times greater than its capacity.

Overcrowding at the unit is one of the reasons that led doctors and other health professionals to hold a protest in front of the unit today (19). The protesters also demanded better working conditions and criticized the government's decision to place the hospital under the administration of a Social Organization (OS).

"The staff and doctors [of the unit] decided to protest for better working conditions, for the hiring of healthcare professionals, because there is a shortage of human resources, and for better salaries. There is a lot that needs to be done to improve care for the population," said the president of the Regional Council of Medicine of Rio (Cremerj), Sidnei Ferreira, who supported the demonstration.

According to the Health Department, the guidance is not to refuse treatment to patients. The department also stated that there are difficulties in filling the staffing positions at the unit, even with the offer of R$ 2,5 per 24-hour shift.

"Given this, the department is reorienting its management model with administration by a Social Organization (OS). Regarding tenured professionals, all employees will remain in their units and will have the option of maintaining their status, receiving an optional bonus, or, if they wish, being transferred after the OS takes over," says a statement from the Health Department.