Santa Casa de Campo Grande suspends pediatric heart surgeries through SUS

Children who need heart surgery through the Unified Health System (SUS) in Mato Grosso do Sul may have to travel to other states to get care. This occurs after the pediatric cardiac surgery team at Santa Casa de Campo Grande suspended elective procedures, that is, those that can be scheduled.

Santa Casa is a reference in the state and the only unit accredited by the SUS in Mato Grosso do Sul to perform highly complex pediatric heart surgeries.

According to the Doctors' Union of Mato Grosso do Sul (Sinmed-MS), the suspension is mainly related to the lack of materials needed for the procedures and the delay in paying more than 100 doctors hired as a legal entity.

Elective services have been suspended since July 29th. In addition to pediatric heart surgeries, outpatient care was also suspended.

For the president of Sinmed-MS, Marcelo Santana Silveira, the situation is worrying because Santa Casa is the largest hospital in the state and receives patients from different municipalities.

"The current situation at Santa Casa is quite delicate. Since July 29, 2026, outpatient care and elective surgeries have been suspended, mainly due to the lack of supplies and adequate conditions for doctors to provide quality and safe medicine for the patient."

According to him, the departure of the children's cardiac surgery team is the main point of concern at this time. Other specialties would also be considering ceasing to serve the unit.

"What really impacted the most was the exit of pediatric heart surgery, but other specialties are also organizing themselves to leave, such as, for example, anesthesiology. Others may leave, such as orthopedics."

Children may need to travel to other states

The suspension is particularly worrying because Santa Casa is the only unit accredited by the SUS in the state for this type of surgery.

Mato Grosso do Sul has another pediatric heart surgery service, in a private hospital. The unit cares for newborns and children, including in cases considered complex. Currently, however, the service is intended for private patients and those with health plans.

As a result, if a child treated by the SUS needs surgery that cannot be performed at Santa Casa, the patient may have to be referred to another state.

"For pediatric heart surgery, with the disqualification of Santa Casa, these patients will need to be moved to other states to receive care," stated Marcelo.

The scenario could also get worse if other medical teams stop working at the hospital.

g1 contacted Santa Casa de Campo Grande to find out about reports of lack of supplies, delays in doctors' payments and the suspension of pediatric heart surgeries.

The report also questioned what measures are being taken to ensure continuity of care for children who depend on the SUS. Until the last update of this report, the hospital had not responded.