The Federation of Charities and Philanthropic Works of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FEMERJ) is in dialogue with public authorities to create the SUS Fluminense Table. This structuring proposal aims for the economic and financial sustainability of philanthropic health institutions in Rio de Janeiro, by aiming to reduce the operational deficit. The project seeks to adapt the model of the Paulista Table of the SUS, supplementing the amounts paid by the SUS with state resources.
“This is an ambitious project, but certainly fundamental. Our goal is to promote the health of philanthropic institutions, ensuring that they continue to be the pillar of SUS care in Rio de Janeiro. The SUS Fluminense Table is the answer to sustainability,” says Marcelo Hernandes Perello, president of FEMERJ.
Contextualization and central objective of the proposal
The general objective of the project is to promote hospital procedures carried out by philanthropic hospitals, by reducing operational deficits. In this context, Perello highlights that “the disparity between the values of the SUS table and hospital costs is a factor that contributes to the financial imbalance of these entities, since the transferred values do not follow the evolution of hospital costs.”
With the implementation of the SUS Fluminense Table, FEMERJ plans:
- Reduction of operational deficits.
- Increase in hospital production.
- Expansion of available beds.
- Improve the financial viability of institutions.
To validate the proposal, FEMERJ carried out a technical study applying the rules of the SUS Paulista Table to hospital production in the philanthropic hospitals of Rio de Janeiro. The experience of São Paulo has already demonstrated positive results, such as the reduction of the operational deficit, the reopening of SUS beds and an average growth of 7% in hospital production during the first year of implementation.
Projected financial impact and deficit coverage
The FEMERJ study used the actual production of the state’s philanthropic hospitals to simulate the new values based on the readjustment coefficients of the São Paulo model. The projected financial results indicate a financial impact that would cover all services provided by RJ Philanthropic Hospitals. The cost to make the program viable is a fraction of the state’s annual health budget.
The adoption of the proposed state complement would make it possible to cover or reduce the operational deficit of the philanthropic hospitals of Rio de Janeiro, with the aim of bringing the institutions of Rio de Janeiro closer to the level reached by the institutions of São Paulo.
Institutional dialogue and next steps
FEMERJ has actively encouraged institutional dialogue with public authorities. Recently, the Board of Directors and the technical team of the Federation presented the structured technical project to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, through the Federal Deputy Laura Carneiro.
The initiative was welcomed positively by the mayor, who undertook to evaluate the proposal and transmit the necessary technical analyses.
The SUS Fluminense Table’s proposal reinforces the role of philanthropic institutions in serving the population and the need for a more sustainable model of public health in the state. FEMERJ reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the SUS.
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