The Sanitary Surveillance Centers (CVS) and Epidemiological Surveillance Centers (CVE) of the State of São Paulo, along with the Municipal Epidemiological Surveillance, conducted an inspection at the Salvalus Hospital, located in Mooca, East Zone of São Paulo. The inspection took place this Friday, the 23rd, in response to the disclosure of infant death cases at the institution during this year.
Health authorities are evaluating the circumstances related to 35 infant deaths registered this year. Simultaneously, the Civil Police is investigating the deaths of six children at the hospital, which is part of the Hapvida network, belonging to the NotreDame Intermédica group.
During the inspection, teams examined the operational conditions of the neonatal and pediatric wards, the established protocols for hygiene and infection prevention, as well as the monitoring of assistance indicators. Furthermore, an analysis of changes in the care profile was conducted, with a special focus on patients requiring high complexity care.
The responsible agencies reported that all documentation gathered during the inspection is undergoing priority analysis, aiming to guide the implementation of relevant administrative measures, in compliance with current legislation.
Police Investigation
According to the Public Security Secretariat (SSP), six incidents are under investigation at the district's 8th Police Precinct in the neighborhood. The children, whose ages range from zero to three years, reportedly developed hospital infections and died due to sepsis (previously known as generalized infection) and other complications.
Lawyer Eduarda Fragnan Gomes, who represents three mothers, reported that there are at least 19 cases of families who lost their children in surgeries performed at Salvalus Hospital in the last six months. Salvalus Hospital is part of the Hapvida network, of the NotreDame Intermédica group, and is located on Rua Bresser, in Mooca, East Zone of São Paulo.
According to the lawyer, police reports have been filed in cities such as Praia Grande and Itaquaquecetuba, as well as in police stations in the capital, such as Vila Maria. She added that many cases have not yet been documented and others have not been forwarded to the 8th DP, which centralizes the investigations. According to Eduarda Fragnan, these are children who underwent surgeries for malformations, digestive, or corrective issues, having a low probability of dying, but who suffered from generalized infection and subsequently passed away. She expressed the pain of the families involved.
In an official note, the Civil Police stated that the police authority is conducting diligence, including testimonies from health professionals and witnesses, and a complete analysis of medical records, with the objective of determining the causes of death. The incidents began at the beginning of the year and were reported this Wednesday, the 21st.
Hospital's Position
Through a statement, Salvalus Hospital manifested that, so far, the institution has not received formal notification regarding the cited procedures and makes itself available to the competent authorities to provide the necessary clarifications, respecting medical confidentiality and patient privacy.
The unit also emphasized that it treats the reports with the utmost seriousness and pointed out that different clinical situations cannot be attributed to a single cause without technical proof. The hospital informed that this year, more than a thousand children were treated with individualized care and specialized teams. Evaluations carried out so far indicate distinct clinical histories, without evidence of a common infectious origin among the examined cases.
Eduarda Fragnan Gomes mentioned that in the following week, several other families will be accompanied to the 8th DP of Brás to file new police reports against the hospital.
Details of the Salvalus Hospital Note
The hospital reinforced its commitment to patient safety, quality of care, and respect for families. It reiterated that diverse clinical situations cannot be generalized or used to draw conclusions about all care without technical support. Allegations without adequate context can increase the anguish of families who are already in moments of great fragility.
The unit maintains continuous evaluations of care safety and support channels for families. Finally, it confirmed that it had not received formal notification regarding the mentioned procedures and remains available to the competent authorities, ensuring medical confidentiality and patient privacy.