RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), considered one of the world’s main public health research institutions, on Tuesday released a study that finds that Brazil is currently facing the greatest health and hospital collapse in its history. The finding is in the Extraordinary Covid-19 Fiocruz Observatory Report. According to the institution, the study points to an extremely critical situation nationwide.
“According to the researchers who conducted the study, this is the biggest health and hospital collapse in the history of Brazil,” says the report.
At the moment, 24 of the 26 states, and the Federal District, record Covid-19 ICU bed occupancy rates for adults in the National Health System (SUS) at or above 80%, and 15 have rates equal to or higher than 90%. As for the capitals, 25 of the 27 record rates equal to or higher than 80%; 19 of the capitals exceed 90%.
The report used data from state health secretariats and the Federal District, and the capitals’ health secretariats as a reference. The mapping includes data collected since July 17th, 2020.
The critical picture results in direct and indirect impacts on the population’s health and that of health workers who have been working on the front line of the fight against the pandemic. “Despite an occupancy rate below the maximum 100% capacity, several locations have waiting lines for beds, which represents a situation of service collapse,” reads the text.
There are also impacts resulting from the lack of assistance to other diseases due to the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
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“Other causes of hospitalization such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, digestive tract diseases, are not being cared for due to the high occupation of hospital beds, resulting in an increase in excess mortality,” says the study.
Tighter restrictions
“In order to prevent the number of cases and deaths from spreading even further across the country, as well as to reduce bed occupancy rates, researchers advocate the rigorous adoption of prevention and control measures, such as stricter restrictions on non-essential activities,” says the report.
The researchers reiterate the need to expand physical and social distancing measures, the widespread wearing of masks, and stepping up vaccination.
Example
The municipality of Araraquara, in São Paulo, is featured in the report as one of the current examples of how measures to restrict non-essential activities prevent the collapse or extension of the critical situation in health services and systems.
“With the measures implemented by the municipality, Araraquara succeeded in reducing the transmission of cases and deaths, protecting the life and health of the population,” says the study.
Source: Valor