Opinion – Fernando Ganem: Vocation of the hospital sector

The end of the year is a time for reflection and balance. We look back and evaluate the mistakes and successes of our recent trajectory. Life is a cycle of opportunity in which we can and must lead by example and be open to learning from the experiences of others. The Covid-19 pandemic has placed the hospital sector in a prominent position. At the same time, it brought us great challenges. And it is when all eyes are on us that we must show our vocation and our preparation to take care of the health of Brazilians more and more. We are shelter centers for illness, but we can be much more.

During the pandemic, we consolidated ourselves as an important reference for reputable information at a time of uncertainty. We live today in a new reality, in which learning to say “we don’t have this data yet” is as fundamental as speaking out in favor of science. According to Edelman’s Trust Barometer, companies are the most reliable source of information for Brazilians. We have to expand our communication to explain what medicine has as a fact and what we are learning from the advance of the pandemic.

In addition to scientific knowledge, our humanity was also put to the test, and my conclusion is that we need to come out of this health crisis stronger than we entered it, looking more at each other, strengthening our internal governance and, externally, we need to be more socially responsible.

A PWC survey presented in August of this year found that 62% of respondents have a more positive perception of institutions if they actively work to improve social issues. And this is being heard and perceived by the sector. This same research shows that the social pillar has been the main focus of healthcare and pharmaceutical companies since January 2020. It is a demand from society and an opportunity for the hospital sector to take the lead in social, environmental and governance areas (already known acronym, ESG).

Much is already being done to consolidate ESG initiatives in the hospital sector. The Sírio-Libanês, for example, is currently the only carbon neutral hospital in Brazil, in addition to being a signatory of the UN Global Compact. In this year, which completes a century since the foundation of the Sírio-Libanês Hospital Ladies’ Beneficent Society, we were also recognized with the Pro-Ethics company certificate by the Federal Comptroller General (CGU), in partnership with the Ethos Institute, granted to institutions that voluntarily adopt measures aimed at preventing, detecting and remediating acts of corruption and fraud, as well as respecting free competition. The Sírio-Libanês was the only Brazilian hospital to receive this recognition.

Like many other hospitals in Brazil, we were born as a philanthropic institution and we have a social perspective as a fundamental part of our operation, as well as promoting greater access to quality healthcare and helping to reduce social inequality in the country. We do this through our Social Responsibility Institute, a Social Health Organization (OSS), which has an agreement to manage five public health units. In practice, the Hospital Sírio-Libanês manages almost the same amount of public beds as private ones in São Paulo. We offer free outpatient services in onco-mastology, pediatrics and imaging exams, in partnership with the Health Department of the City of São Paulo.

Leading by example is going beyond our calling. Being a care center is the role of hospitals, but the pandemic showed us that we can go further, reinforcing our mission of producing knowledge and promoting new technologies, creating markets for the development of Brazil. Over the past two years, the number of “healthtechs”, health technology companies, has grown from 248 to 542, according to Distrito, a community of startups in Brazil. The hospital sector is an important technology demander and tool applicator.

In this year in which our hospital celebrates its 100th anniversary, we assume that it is also a time for reflection, looking at the intense challenges we have had in the last two years, but also at all the overcoming we have followed in recent decades. May everyone look back over the last 12 months and analyze their achievements, what they did wrong and think about how to be even better in this new year to come. Hospitals responded very well to the clashes of the pandemic and forever captured the look of hope of all Brazilians. Congratulations to all healthcare professionals for fulfilling their vocation and for doing so much more. Happy holidays to everyone and a happy 2022.