In a troubling situation unfolding in Teresina, Piauí, families of patients with suspected cancer are voicing strong criticism over significant delays in transferring their loved ones from the Hospital de Urgência de Teresina (HUT) to specialized treatment facilities. The primary destination for these transfers is the Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal do Piauí (HU-UFPI), a key reference center for oncology care within the public health system.
The core of the issue lies in a growing queue for hospital beds. According to a lawyer specializing in medical law who is assisting the families, the transfer queue, known as the "fila de regulação," has swelled to approximately 40 patients. This backlog means patients are stuck in a facility not equipped for their long-term oncological needs. One patient, a 58-year-old woman, has been waiting at the HUT for over a week, a delay her family fears could have dire consequences given the aggressive nature of cancer.
Legal guidelines stipulate a critical window for action. Experts point out that legislation mandates a period of up to 30 days to diagnose and begin oncological treatment. Exceeding this timeframe can severely compromise the chances of reversing the disease, adding a layer of urgency to the families' pleas. The situation has been described by some relatives as a "fila da morte" or "death queue," highlighting their perception of the life-or-death stakes involved in these bureaucratic delays.
Both hospitals involved have issued statements explaining their positions. The HU-UFPI confirmed that all 25 of its oncology beds were occupied on the day of the report. The hospital stated that as beds become available, they are made accessible to the Teresina city government, which is responsible for regulating and distributing the patient load. The HU-UFPI emphasized its efforts to reduce wait times but noted that the organization of patient transfers falls under the municipality's purview.
The Hospital de Urgência de Teresina clarified its role, stating it is not a reference center for oncology treatment. The HUT explained that patients often arrive without a definitive diagnosis or in need of immediate stabilization. After medical evaluation and stabilization, patients requiring specialized cancer care are registered in the central regulation system for transfer. The hospital assured that the patients in question are receiving appropriate multidisciplinary care while they await a vacancy at the HU-UFPI.
Personal accounts from families paint a vivid picture of the human cost. One daughter described her mother's rapid weight loss and the struggle to secure a transfer spot, stating, "I am clamoring for this bed, my mother has a right to this spot." Another family reported a patient's tumor growing rapidly while waiting, damaging vital organs and necessitating emergency dialysis, underscoring the deteriorating condition of patients caught in the transfer backlog.
The crisis also points to a broader shortage of specialist doctors, such as urologists, at the initial care facility to properly manage suspected cancer cases. This gap in expertise at the first point of contact further complicates the patient journey and likely contributes to the pressure on the transfer system. The situation in Piauí presents a stark challenge to the public health system's capacity to provide timely, life-saving care for cancer patients.
Based on reporting from g1.