São Luís mayor ordered emergency plan as audit probes pediatric ICU contract

The Maranhão State Court of Accounts (MPC‑MA) has filed a request for a special audit of the three pediatric intensive care units (UTIs) at Hospital da Criança Dr. Odorico Amaral de Matos in São Luís. The audit challenges the contract signed by the city hall with the Brazilian Medical Services Institute (IBMED) for managing the units and seeks clarification on staffing levels, professional qualifications, and compliance with the original technical study.

MPC‑MA also ordered the municipal health secretariat to present, within 48 hours, an emergency contingency plan to ensure continuity, safety and humane care at the hospital. The demand was addressed to mayor Esmênia Miranda, health secretary Ana Carolina Marques Mitri da Costa, the hospital director and representatives of IBMED. Reported concerns include a sharp drop in the number of doctors—from about 53 before the contract to as few as three per shift after IBMED took over—and possible mismatches between the contract specifications and actual service delivery. The audit will also examine contracts, staffing rosters, bed maps, mortality review reports, infection control records and inventories of medicines and equipment.