The dermatology teams at Santa Maria Hospital will have to return around R$818,000 to that hospital unit after receiving payments considered undue for additional surgeries, concluded the General Inspection of Health Activities (IGAS).
28 health professionals are covered by the obligation to return the money (through the mechanism for exercising the right of return), namely 16 doctors, six nurses and six assistants, according to the report. Observer.
IGAS found that the 511 surgical episodes analyzed corresponded to a payment of R$901,851.11 to the teams, of which R$818,756.11 was paid unduly, “based on the payment authorizations of the members of the Board of Directors of the Santa Maria Local Health Unit, EPE, between 2021 and 2025”.
“It was concluded that all surgeries in the selected sample fit the concept of minor surgery, given that the cumulative requirements to be considered outpatient surgery were not met”indicates a note sent to newsrooms.
The amounts paid unduly will have to be returned “through an autonomous process”, “without prejudice to the eventual determination of reintegrative financial responsibility”.
Around half will have to be returned by Miguel Alpalhão, the doctor who earned the most from these surgeries.
Among the members of the Board of Directors during this period is the current Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, who led the Santa Maria hospital between February 2023 and January 2024.
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