Public Defender finds insufficient medical staff at Children's Hospital in São Luís

The Public Defender's Office of Maranhão state conducted an inspection at the Dr. Odorico Amaral de Matos Children's Hospital in São Luís, Brazil, on Wednesday, November 15th. The inspection was prompted by allegations of failures within the pediatric Intensive Care Units (ICUs). During the three-hour visit, public defender Davi Veras reported identifying irregularities, including a doctor without pediatric specialization and a number of medical professionals deemed insufficient according to technical standards. Veras stated that the inadequate staffing levels would likely compromise patient care. The inspection also revealed concerns from parents regarding delayed treatment and medication shortages. The Public Defender's Office has been monitoring the hospital since last year, following a tender process for the management of the pediatric ICUs. They had previously raised concerns about the winning bidder, Instituto Brasileiro de Serviços Médicos (IBMED), suggesting potential issues with their contract that could impact care quality. Public defender Vinicius Goullar indicated that a detailed report would be compiled, including observations and testimonies from families, and submitted to the Health Secretariat and hospital administration to expedite problem resolution. The office is also investigating potential underreporting of incidents and errors in medication administration or care by unqualified staff, which could lead to an intervention at the facility if proven. Separately, the Ministry of Health conducted its own audit on November 14th, focusing on the pediatric ICUs due to urgent complaints from parents. The audit, which lasted approximately three hours, will result in a report with potential recommendations for the São Luís City Hall to address identified issues. The Ministry's audit will involve reviewing patient records, staff schedules, contracts, mortality rates, and admission data. The Maranhão Public Prosecutor's Office is also investigating a significant reported increase in deaths within the hospital's pediatric ICUs, with 101 deaths occurring in the ICUs in 2025 compared to an unspecified number in 2024, though the municipality disputes these figures. A previous report suggested over half of the 31 deaths recorded in the SUS system in 2025 could have been preventable.