Brazilian health officials object to new emergency service shift schedule

Councilor Aladilce Souza criticized the abrupt replacement of a 24‑hour on‑call regime with a 12‑hour shift system for São Paulo's Mobile Emergency Service (Samu) workers in Salvador, saying the change was announced only through a government decree and without any dialogue with the staff, creating insecurity among responders.

Municipal health secretary Marinete Mesquita of Epitaciolândia defended the municipality's role in the Treatment Outside the Home (TFD) program, clarifying that the service is legally a state responsibility but the city continues to transport patients out of humanitarian concern, countering recent media accusations.