Number of health professionals on sick leave doubles in 7 days in SP

The number of professionals on leave in the municipal health network of São Paulo doubled in one week. According to a bulletin released on Thursday night (13) by the Municipal Health Department, 3,193 people are in this situation.

The problem occurs when there is overcrowding in health posts because of the advancement of the omicron variant of the coronavirus and flu patients.

On the last day 6, the portfolio accounted for 1,585 professionals on leave. That is, between Thursday of last week and this one, the number jumped by 101%.

Of the total number of professionals currently on leave, 1,403 were confirmed for Covid-19 and another 1,683 had flu-like symptoms.

In the case of people with the new coronavirus, the proportion of leaves is even higher than in general, since on the last day 6 there were only 269 professionals in this situation. The increase in the number of cases was almost 380% in one week.

The problem of overcrowding and absences, according to Simesp (Sindicato dos Médicos de São Paulo), has led doctors from UBSs (Basic Health Units) to stop providing primary health care to care for patients with respiratory problems.

Hiring doctors to care for patients with flu syndrome is one of the demands of professionals working in primary care. In an assembly on Thursday night, which was attended by 150 doctors, they decided to go on strike next Wednesday (19) and maintain a state of permanent mobilization.

In the assembly, the doctors decided to give a deadline until Monday (17) for the answer and promise to reassess the stoppage. The list of demands also includes exemption from attending weekends and holidays and dialogue between union and city hall.

“Professionals have provided emergency care in basic health units,” said doctor Vanessa Araújo, from Simesp, who works in municipal primary care.

“Continued care programs, such as pregnant women, children, hypertensive and diabetic patients, have been left out because of the care of these patients with respiratory syndromes,” he said.

Health professionals argue that the teams are exhausted, there are endless working hours, demands for goals and lack of supplies in overcrowded health units.

On Wednesday (12), the secretariat stated in a note that since December 1, 2021 there has been an increase in the number of employees on leave due to Srag (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Covid-19, “but it is still considered low and does not cause impacts on assistance”, which doctors dispute.

On Wednesday morning, a team from Simesp visited UBS Santa Cecília, in the center of the capital. The unit was supposed to have eight doctors and was operating with just three.

The city government counters by saying that it hired 280 professionals in the area and installed tents in units with a greater number of services to speed up the screening of service users.

Shortly before the assembly, the management Ricardo Nunes (MDB) stated that the social organizations that manage the UBSs received authorization to hire doctors and nursing teams to meet this increased demand in primary care units.

“Professionals linked to social health organizations and partners will start the 2021 overtime payment schedule in two stages. Half in the first quarter and the other half in the second quarter”, said the secretary.

“Professionals in the direct administration, who start from this phase of the pandemic to attend Saturdays, will have the overtime paid along with their salaries. The OSSs are also authorized to buy medicines and supplies on an emergency basis”, he said.

Because of the explosion of cases, since last weekend the UBSs began to see patients with flu syndrome on Saturdays.

In January, until this Wednesday, the folder says that 124,957 services were provided to people with respiratory symptoms, of which 74,694 were suspected of Covid-19, in the UPAs (Emergency Care Units), in the AMAs (Ambulatory Medical Assistance), in the PAs (Ready calls) and in emergency rooms. In the 469 UBSs, 152,000 patients were treated with respiratory symptoms.

And after a new surge in hospitalizations due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus, the City of São Paulo announced on Thursday the expansion from 443 to 1,110 exclusive beds for patients with Covid-19 in the municipal network.

It was also announced that 33 WADAs, UBSs and Integrated WADAs/UBSs will have their opening hours extended from 7pm to 10pm starting Monday (17).

Another six units, which currently serve 12 hours, are now open 24 hours. 23 tents will also be set up.

Professionals away from the municipal network

Professionals away with Covid-19