The Government of the State of São Paulo authorized this Monday (21/2) the investment of R$ 12 million for the start of services at the Institute of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (IOU). The authorization was signed at a meeting at Palácio dos Bandeirantes by Vice-Governor Rodrigo Garcia. The amount will be allocated to the unit throughout the first year of activities, starting in April, in transfers of R$ 1 million per month, through an agreement between the State Government and Unicamp. The partnership arose from an initiative by Federal Deputy Carlos Sampaio.
"The release of the amount of R$ 12 million will enable the start of IOU activities at the beginning of April", declared the deputy when thanking the state administration for the transfer and also to Unicamp and the Regional Department of Health (DRS), for their service to the health demands of the Campinas region. Participating in the meeting were the Rector of Unicamp Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles; the General Coordinator Maria Luiza Moretti; the executive director of the Health Area, professor Oswaldo Grassiotto; and the director of IOU, professor Agrício Crespo. Also present were the State Secretary of Health, Jean Gorinchteyn; the executive secretary of the department, Eduardo Adriano and Mirella Povinelli, regional director of Health for Campinas.
The rector of Unicamp thanked Carlos Sampaio's initiative and the support of the state government and the Regional Health Directorate: "This moment is important for us at Unicamp, because in addition to responding to regional desires to improve the provision of services to the community, it is an opportunity to generate a differentiated model for the evolution of our healthcare area". The IOU was built with resources from the Public Ministry of Labor arising from a public civil action. “Right now, it will basically be maintained through an agreement with the state public authorities, but for it to reach full operating capacity we will have to think about new management models, which test other possibilities for the sector", he comments.
The Institute is in the final stages of installation. The works have already been completed and the work plan for the unit is currently being drawn up. The start of activities is scheduled for April. "The IOU is not just a hospital, but an institute. It is a teaching, assistance and continuing education center", details Agrício Crespo. The director assesses that the authorized transfer encourages the engagement of other sectors with the maintenance of the equipment: "We want a unit that can do the most, that stands out in the region and beyond. We cannot do this alone. That is why the public authorities and civil society are engaged in this project".
The IOU will be a referenced unit of national impact. The services will be provided by the Unified Health System (SUS) and regulated by the Center for Regulation of Vacancies and Offers of Health Services (Cross). "This partnership with Unicamp is fundamental. The IOU will be a hospital with a very sensitive line of care, in the area of oncology and head and neck surgery, serving the 42 municipalities in the region", points out Jean Gorinchteyn.
For Rodrigo Garcia, the institute responds to the need identified by the state administration to reorganize health care in São Paulo, aiming to improve basic and specialized services. "We need to look to the future and the IOU meets this. It is a hospital dedicated to a specialized area, with growing demand. The work has come to fruition and now the State is stepping in as the initial financier to transform it into a major piece of equipment in the system of São Paulo", says Rodrigo Garcia.