General coordinator and acting rector, Fernando Coelho, reinforced last Thursday (11) the urgency of the discussion on the autarchization of the health area of Unicamp. For him, this is a strategic action, with great impact, which could define the direction of the University's growth.
"Today, we are at what I call a crossroads, where we must choose the path we want to follow," said Coelho, during an event organized by the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) to discuss the topic. Titled "FCM 2025 Workshop: Autonomous Government of the Healthcare Sector," the event brought together experts and managers from healthcare institutions and universities to discuss the experiences and challenges related to autonomous government in the sector.
"This discussion has a series of ramifications and is not simple, but we must approach it soberly and calmly, because what's at stake is the future of the University. It's the future when we think about expansion; about increasing the number of places, courses, and strengthening our other campuses. All of this involves this discussion," Coelho added.
The acting rector noted that, among the three state universities in São Paulo, Unicamp offers the fewest places to the community. Unesp has approximately 7 students, and Unicamp has about 3,5, he argued. "So, what we have ahead of us is a discussion that I would almost say is about survival," he warns.
Earlier this month, a delegation from Unicamp led by Rector Paulo Cesar Montagner met with Governor Tarcísio de Freitas at Palácio dos Bandeirantes in São Paulo to discuss the matter. The governor gave the green light to begin technical studies and budget planning, taking into account a 10-year transition period for expanding programs following the transformation of Unicamp's Health Department into an autonomous entity.
The proposal is to gradually open new programs over this period, with a progressive reduction in the budgetary resources that Unicamp reserves for the health sector. Currently, the Rector's Office allocates approximately R$1,1 billion per year of its budget to the health sector.
At the meeting, the former rector of Unesp, Pasqual Barretti – who currently holds the position of CEO of the Foundation for Medical and Hospital Development (Famesp/Unesp) – took stock of the 15 years since the transformation of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Botucatu School of Medicine into an autonomous entity.
"The experience has been very positive," said Barretti. "15 years is a short time for a hospital that's almost 60 years old, but the progress is undeniable, especially in the renovation of the technology park," he affirms. He confirms that there has been an expansion of services, improvements in infrastructure, and an increase in the number of patients treated.
"I think Unicamp should have already done this [autonomous status]. There's no other way for Unicamp than to pursue this alternative. This proposal to autonomize the entire healthcare sector, not just the HC, and, in return, offer more undergraduate places, is very interesting. It's of great benefit to society," he asserts.
At the opening of the event, doctor Luiz Carlos Zeferino, from the Health Area Directorate (DEAS) at Unicamp, said that the transformation of the University's healthcare sector into an autonomous entity should follow a model similar to that currently in place with the Medical Schools of USP and Unesp.
Zeferino noted that an autarchy is a public entity with economic, technical, and administrative autonomy, but is overseen by the state. The newly created autarchy would be linked to the State Department of Health for administrative and budgetary purposes, but would remain associated with the School of Medical Sciences (FCM) and other health units at Unicamp for teaching, research, and outreach purposes.
The Workshop also included information on the experiences of autarchization at the HC of the Marília School of Medicine (Famema), presented by the municipal secretary of health of Marília, Paloma Libanio Nunes; on the implementation of the model at the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, with the director of the Department of Health Care at the Hospital das Clínicas, Maria Carolina de Oliveira Rodrigues; and on the experience of the Zerbini Foundation/Incor, with the director of the Zerbini Foundation, Paulo Eduardo Moreira Rodrigues da Silva.
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