Brazil extends R$640m A&E modernisation
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Authorities from Palmas, the capital of Brazil's Tocantins state, have begun negotiations with the federal health ministry on how they will spend their share of a R$640m (US$266m) investment in A&E service modernisation in 2005-06, mainly for equipment. Tocantins thus becomes the tenth of Brazil's 27 states to be involved in the QualiSUS programme to improve A&E facilities and meet stringent new standards of care. It has so far been implemented in five state capitals - Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza and Aracaju - and is currently being set up in a further four: Belo Horizonte, Goiania, Natal and Curitiba. By the end of this year, the health ministry aims to cover the main A&E specialties in all 27 states (including the Federal District). QualiSUS stands for Qualificacao da Atencao a Saude no SUS (Sistema Unico di Saude).