The executive director of the SNS, Antonio Gandra d’Almeida
Reports of irregularities in access to plastic surgery, to which António Gandra d´Almeida was subjected last month by the SNS, are under investigation. Director says the complaint is a “disregard of personal life”.
The General Inspection of Health Activities (IGAS) is investigating a complaint of irregularities in access to surgery in the National Health Service (SNS) to which the current executive director, António Gandra d´Almeida, was subjected.
The anonymous complaint alleges that the director had benefited from preferential treatment for the plastic surgeryheld at the Gaia hospital in October, bypassing the SNS waiting list management rules and getting ahead of other patients in the same situation, advances this Thursday.
IGAS initiated an inspection process after receiving an anonymous complaint pointing to a possible non-compliance with standards of the Integrated Access Management System (SIGA SUS). The investigation now aims to determine whether Gandra d´Almeida violated the usual route of access to surgeries.
The entity deployed a team to collect information at the Guaíba hospital. According to IGAS, opening cases based on anonymous reports is common practice, in accordance with the 2021 legislation on whistleblower protection.
“Devastation of personal life”, says director
Confronted with the complaint, Gandra stated that he was the target of a “personal life debauchery” and ensured that “everything was done according to the rules”.
The Executive Management of the SNS reinforced that the clinical process and registration for surgery took place before Gandra took office and that hospital procedures were followed in accordance with the law.
The medical lieutenant colonel was executive director of the SNS in May and officially took office in June. According to sources in the process, the first consultation at the Gaia hospital was registered that month, while registration for surgery took place in September.
The Gaia hospital has average waiting times that are longer than those defined by legislation, Público also highlights. Currently, 315 patients are waiting for a preliminary consultation for plastic surgerywith an average waiting time of 57 days.
On the list for surgery, there are 938 patients, with one average waiting interval of 3.16 months. For cases of oncological diseases, deadlines are shorter, with only 22 patients registered and an average waiting time of less than one month.
If the irregularities are confirmed, the IGAS investigation could be another major ‘headache’ for the credibility of the SUS, currently under fire due to what has marked the country’s agenda after 11 deaths possibly linked to delays in emergency services .
