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Even After Millions in Investments, Structures Like the Women’s Hospital in São Gonçalo and the State Oncology Hospital in Nova Friburgo Remain Unfinished in RJ
Maternity wards and hospitals promised for years remain unfinished in the state of Rio de Janeiro. A survey by the State Court of Accounts (TCE) points out that at least 77 government projects are stalled. Among them, two stand out: the Women’s Hospital in São Gonçalo and the State Oncology Hospital in Nova Friburgo.
Women’s Hospital Stalled for 12 Years
The Women’s Hospital in São Gonçalo should have been operational since 2015. The construction has already cost R$ 10 million and has been stalled for 12 years. Even without use, the project still incurs expenses for the public coffers.
In 2022, the state government paid R$ 488 thousand in fines and interest to the responsible contractor and R$ 357 thousand for a demolition service that, according to the report, could not be located. The total expenditure in a single year reached R$ 848 thousand.
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The abandoned structure in the Colubandê neighborhood is surrounded by weeds. The city, the second most populous in the state, has only one public maternity hospital, which lacks the capacity to handle severe cases. Women with high-risk pregnancies need to seek care in neighboring municipalities, such as Niterói.
Vanessa Costa, a sales promoter, laments the situation. “Sad, right? It could be a well-utilized place for us women, who really need it.” Nurse Fátima dos Santos also criticizes the neglect. “In the face of so much ‘for life’ discourse, those who want to have their children cannot do so adequately.”
State deputy Renata Souza (Psol) requested an audit of the spending on the project from the TCE and took the complaint to the Public Ministry. “At this moment, the women here in Colubandê are completely unsupported in what would be obvious: a hospital where 53% are women to serve these women.”
Oncological Hospital Construction Remains Without Expected Completion Date
In Nova Friburgo, the State Oncology Hospital should have been completed years ago. The construction began in 2015, with a bid of R$ 45 million, in partnership with the federal government.
Two years later, the contract was adjusted with an increase of almost R$ 4 million, and the delivery deadline was postponed to 2017.
Even with the cost increase, the project experienced a reduction in scope. The Justice stated that there was a readjustment of the original plan to enable the completion of the work.
Still, it has not been finalized. In 2022, a new sign announced the resumption of work, with an additional R$ 50 million and a one-year deadline for completion. However, in 2025, the construction remains unfinished.
Retiree Mariléa Spitz, who had two cancer cases in the family, reports the difficulties faced. “Going out, going to Rio, waiting for the car, spending a whole day after a chemo session, very difficult, we live in a very delicate situation.”
State Government Defends Itself
The government of Rio states that all works in the health sector have been delivered or are underway. It also claims that the current administration, led by Cláudio Castro, has resumed projects that had been stalled for over 10 years.
Regarding the Oncology Hospital in Nova Friburgo, the government informed that the work needed to be adapted to comply with sanitary regulations and that the inauguration is scheduled for late 2025.
In the case of the Women’s Hospital, the official response was that the unit is still in the planning stage, with no forecast for completion.
Information Outside the TCE Panel
The TCE portal of Rio reports 77 halted projects in the state. However, the court itself acknowledges that the number may be higher, as the data is provided by municipalities.
Health-related projects, such as the Women’s Hospital, do not appear on the list, as the TCE report only considers projects from Emop (Public Works Company) in the areas of security and education. The Ministry of Health, contacted for comment on the termination of the partnership for the construction of the oncology hospital, did not respond.
With information from G1.
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