The Santa Maria Hospital already has an internal audit report on the twins’ case and has already sent it to the Ministry of Health, Ana Paula Martins, president of the board of directors of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (CHULN), said this Wednesday at a conference. hearings in parliament.
The audit confirms that the first consultation was scheduled by the state Department of Health: “It was requested by the State Department. Permission was sought from the clinic director and board of directors.”
However, it is not possible to indicate who exactly was in contact: “I cannot clarify. The scope of the check is documentary, we do not know anything that was not recorded,” he said.
Ana Paula Martins confirmed that the Department of Investigation and Prosecution (DIAP) has already notified her that she will be heard in the investigation.
The hospital requires a citizen card and proof of residence.
“All children treated at CHULN had two documents. The Citizen’s Card and, in this case specifically, a declaration by the family that they reside or undertake to reside in Portugal. It’s documented, it’s based on facts.”
The President of CHULN also recalled that children undergoing treatment are under supervision and payment is made based on the results. “If there are positive results, the tranche is paid.”
Ana Paula Martins recalled that there is a “special line of funding” and that “three more children” are currently under supervision.
CHULN spent more than 16 million euros
The hospital center has already treated 10 children with the same disease as the Portuguese-Brazilian twins, at a cost of more than 16.4 million euros.
André Trindad reports that of the total amount, 12.4 million euros have already been paid.
The patients received, in addition to the twins, were referred from several hospitals: San Francisco Xavier, CUF, Espirito Santo (Azores), García de Orta, USF da Póvoa do Varzim, Fernando da Fonseca and the National Institute of Saud, Prof. Dutora Ricardo Jorge. (INSA).
CHULN President spoke in defense of doctors
“It is very important to understand that from the moment they were admitted, doctors treated all children the same.”
Ana Paula Martins assured that there was no external influence on the doctors’ decisions. “Walkers, chairs, and ventilators are prescribed. All this was done according to the best medical art, and the hospital did the same for everyone.”
“I must protect doctors; our teams take such situations very seriously,” he concluded.
“Everything continued as usual”
The hearing also heard from Board of Directors representative Andre Trindad, who confirmed that procedures related to the treatment of the twins were carried out under normal conditions. “No deviations other than the above were identified. [o pedido da secretaria de Estado]. Everything was consistent with the procedural normality expected in such situations.”
“The hospital must make choices, illnesses must be treated, there must be lines of funding,” he said.
André Trindad said the hospital’s “technical equipment” is being “purchased in batches.” “All decisions are made on the basis of medical prescription, and not an arbitrary decision that says: “Yes, yes, no.”
“I asked not to reassign me”
Ana Paula Martins also took advantage of the hearing to clarify that, contrary to what has been said in recent days, she has not resigned from her duties. “I just asked not to reassign me, I will continue to perform my duties until there is a replacement,” she suggested.
Ana Paula Martins emphasized that the hospital strives to be transparent. In addition, he said that the audit would not investigate “any criminal liability,” which would be the responsibility of the prosecutor’s office.
“The reason we launched the review was to look at the facts surrounding the hospital and its processes. These patients also have very complex pathologies. The only possibility was to conduct an inspection,” he assured.
The report will be ready by Tuesday evening.
Two twins living in Brazil received Portuguese citizenship and came to Portugal in 2020 to receive the four million euro drug Zolgensma for spinal muscular atrophy.
In February 2020, four months before the Portuguese-Brazilian sisters received free treatment in Portugal with the most expensive medicine in the world, the children’s mother had to sign a declaration agreeing to remain in Portugal after her daughters’ treatment. .
On Tuesday, the president of the Medical Association announced the opening of an internal process to investigate the actions of everyone involved in decisions regardinghappening. Lacerda Sales accused Carlos Cortes of seeking “five minutes of fame” when the investigation began.
The case is being investigated by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Author: Diogo Carreira This Miguel Pinheiro Correia
Source: CM Jornal
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