Residents of the city of São Paulo began to face this Tuesday (16) the suspension of laboratory tests in hospitals and UBS (Basic Health Units) in the city. The strike comes after Afip (Association of Research Incentive Fund) suspended its services due to a BRL 120 million debt from the administration of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB). The public prosecutor has opened an investigation to determine the causes of the problem and the measures adopted by the municipality.
Afip suspended tests such as blood, feces and urine tests in five municipal hospitals and 111 UBS in the east and west zones of the city. THE Leaf It was this Tuesday in two basic units in the center of the capital of São Paulo, where employees said examinations were taking place normally, with the exception of the Pap test. According to Afip, this examination can be carried out by another supplier, the suspended contract with the entity only covering laboratory tests.
At the Menino Jesus Municipal Children’s Hospital, in Bela Vista, the information provided is that laboratory analyzes are suspended indefinitely. Depending on the unit, only internal demand is satisfied, which prevents, for example, the reception of patients referred by UBS.
Afip claims to serve around 200,000 patients and perform around 2 million examinations per month in health units in the city of São Paulo.
On Friday (12), prosecutors Dora Martin Strilicherk and Arthur Pinto Filho, from the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office, opened proceedings to investigate the suspension of laboratory tests in health units in the capital of São Paulo. The initiative took place after the report of Leaf underline the risk that thousands of patients will find themselves without essential examinations.
According to the Public Ministry, clarification was requested from the Municipal Executive on the strategy of the Municipal Health Department to guarantee continuity of care in the SUS and access to adequate diagnosis.
The Municipal Health Directorate indicated that an emergency plan had been prepared in advance and implemented this Tuesday to absorb the demand for tests in the units served by Afip. The ministry said it understands that the entity’s decision to unilaterally end an essential service is inappropriate.
Regarding values, the municipal administration said it transferred BRL 212 million to the association in 2025, “maintaining all compensatory and contractual transfers for the continuity of the services provided.”
According to the secretariat, additional sums are estimated at BRL 102 million in the final conference and settlement phase, “fully following the rites provided for by the legislation in force and previously communicated to the association”. The ministry also specified that the operational recomposition is carried out through management contracts with social organizations already in force on the network.
When questioned, the town hall did not specify what patients should do if they cannot find services in the units served by Afip, nor did it comment on the suspension of the Pap test in the two units visited by Afip. Leaf.
Afip specifies that the suspension came after months of attempts at dialogue without an effective response from the Municipal Health Directorate. According to the entity, continuity of operations has become unfeasible given the volume and duration of delays, which include old debts and a delay of only eight months between 2024 and 2025.
The association also claims that in the last 12 months it has stopped receiving amounts relating to eight of them and that the R$212 million cited by the town hall refers to other contracts maintained with municipal management.
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