Hospitals and clinics suspend services through SUS and Servir no TO due to debt of R$ 274 million

The announcement was made this Wednesday (4), during a press conference in Palmas with representatives from the Union of Hospitals and Health Services Establishments of the State of Tocantins (Sindesto), the Union of Doctors of the State of Tocantins (Simed-TO) and the Cooperative of Anesthesiologists of Tocantins (Coopanest).

According to Sindesto, the strike occurs due to delays in transfers from the Tocantins government. The suspension involves around 60 companies contracted by the State to provide health services. The entity states that the lack of payments compromised the purchase of inputs and the maintenance of activities.

The Departments of Health and Administration state that they have not received formal communication regarding the suspension of services. The government says it is working to regularize payments to providers and maintains dialogue with entities to ensure continuity of services (see full note below).

According to Sindesto, the indefinite suspension affects new elective services, such as consultations, laboratory and imaging tests and scheduled surgeries. Urgent and emergency care will be maintained, in addition to assistance to patients admitted to hospitals.

During the press conference, Sindesto reported that payment delays began to worsen in the first half of the year. At the beginning of July, the State's debts were already 120 days late. In August, representatives of companies and the government signed an agreement with a schedule to regularize payments. According to the union, the commitments made were not fulfilled.

The State Departments of Health (SES-TO) and Administration (Secad) inform that, to date, they have not received formal communication of suspension or stoppage of services from private institutions providing hospital services in the complementary network of the Unified Health System (SUS), nor from the more than 450 providers accredited to the Health Assistance Plan for State Public Servants (Servir).

The two Secretariats clarify that they continue working to regularize payments, in accordance with the agreements established with the respective representative entities. In Health, the competence for May 2026 is being paid, while the previous competences have already been paid, according to the planning agreed with the Union of Hospitals and Health Services Establishments of the State of Tocantins (Sindesto). At Servir, the payment of the invoice for competence 05 is being paid, in installments in accordance with the agreement with the union, with around 32% of the amount remaining to be paid. Invoice 06 has already been paid in full and, by the end of this week, an invoice will be requested for competence 07, continuing the flow of payments.

The departments reinforce that they maintain permanent dialogue with service providers and work to fulfill the commitments made, observing the necessary administrative and financial procedures. State management also highlights that, as provided for in the contract, any interruptions in service within the scope of Servir must be communicated individually to Secad, at least 15 days in advance, with providers being subject to contractual sanctions in case of non-compliance.

Finally, Secad and Ses reaffirm their commitment to continuing assistance to the population and Servir beneficiaries, maintaining institutional efforts to ensure the regularity of services and the construction of solutions through dialogue and administrative responsibility.