In the first 100 days of the new administration, the Palmas City Hall has made healthcare one of its top priorities. Under the leadership of Mayor Eduardo Siqueira Campos, the Municipal Health Department (Semus) has launched a broad initiative to improve healthcare services across the city, focusing on humanization, infrastructure upgrades, medicine procurement, and staff expansion.
Early in January, Mayor Campos ordered the immediate renovation of the kitchen at the North Emergency Care Unit (UPA Norte). Within 60 days, the renovation was completed. The facility now provides meals for several healthcare services, including the Psychosocial Care Centers (Caps II, Caps AD III, and Capsi), the Mobile Emergency Service (Samu), and both the North and South UPAs.
Another significant project completed was the full renovation of the Valéria Martins Pereira Family Health Unit (USF), located in Arse 122 (1.206 South). Delivered in February, the upgrade received R$ 1.6 million for structural improvements and over R$ 255,000 for new furnishings.
Additional health facilities are also being upgraded or built. New locations for the Center of Dental Specialties (CEO), the Sanitary Surveillance Department (Visa), and Caps II are scheduled to open by mid-year. Renovation work is also ongoing at the Zoonosis Surveillance and Control Unit (UVCZ), expected to be finished by May.
More Facilities Undergoing Renovation
During the first quarter, renovations began at the Mariazinha Rodrigues da Silva (Buritirana) and Santa Bárbara USFs. Mayor Campos has already approved a comprehensive package of works for 2025. This includes upgrades to the following health units: Arne 53 (406 North), Loiane Moreno Vieira (Arse 24 – 210 South), Arse 82 (806 South), Héder de Oliveira Silva (Arse 131 – 1.304 South), and several others in Liberdade, Eugênio Pinheiro, Lago Sul, Morada do Sol, Santa Fé, and Walterly Wagner José Ribeiro in Taquaruçu Grande.
The city also secured federal funding for six new healthcare facilities: a polyclinic and a Family Health Unit in Jardim Aureny II, new type II and III Caps centers, a Center for Natural Birth, and a new complex in the city’s northern region. The latter will include the new UPA Norte building, a pediatric emergency center, and a municipal diagnostic facility.
Securing Supplies and Strengthening the Network
At the beginning of the year, around 60% of essential medications and supplies were out of stock. To resolve this, Semus initiated two procurement processes for medical and dental supplies and has since stabilized inventory levels across the health network.
To streamline future procurement and reduce costs, Semus proposed the creation of an Intermunicipal Health Consortium with the cities of Araguaína, Gurupi, Paraíso do Tocantins, and Porto Nacional. This joint initiative would enable bulk purchasing of medicines and supplies, benefiting all participating municipalities.
Expanding the Healthcare Workforce
To enhance service quality and increase capacity, Semus called 76 candidates from the health services hiring reserve list. The largest group of recruits was for endemic disease control agents (22), followed by dentists (13) and nurses (11).
Improved Mental Health Support for Neurodivergent Patients
With rising mental health demands, the city has taken steps to enhance care for neurodivergent individuals, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Semus has maintained dialogue with parents of children with ASD and is working to implement a structured care pathway within the public health system. This will ensure early diagnosis, multi-disciplinary treatment, and family support.
Strategic Fundraising and Resource Mobilization
Since January, Health Secretary Dhieine Caminski, under the guidance of Mayor Campos, has coordinated efforts with political leaders and federal agencies to secure investments in local healthcare. These efforts have led to the allocation of over R$ 100 million in projected funding for key initiatives, including:
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Renovation of the 12 USFs mentioned earlier (two already underway), estimated at R$ 19 million;
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Construction of a Family Health Unit with Emergency Services in Jardim Taquari, estimated at R$ 12 million;
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Development of a Northern Health Complex, including the new UPA Norte, a pediatric emergency center, and a diagnostic facility, with an estimated cost of R$ 30 million;
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Implementation of the “Fila Zero” task force to reduce medical backlogs, with an initial budget of R$ 20 million.
These efforts reflect a clear and strategic commitment by the Palmas administration to overhaul and modernize the city’s healthcare system, ensuring more humane, efficient, and inclusive services for its residents.
