Secretary of Health is arrested during investigation into the outsourcing of UPAs in Palmas An agreement signed by the City of Palmas led to the outsourcing of Emergency Care Units (UPAs) in March 2026. Three months later, in June, the Secretary of Health, Dhieine Caminski, and the superintendent of Health Care, Andreis Vicente da Costa, were arrested on suspicion of fraud in the contract, which has a value of R$139 million. The philanthropic entity Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Itatiba was hired to take over the services, including hiring professionals to serve the population. On April 22, the Court of Justice suspended outsourcing, which ended up being released by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ). 📱 Click here to follow the g1 TO channel on WhatsApp Secretary Dhieine Caminski's defense informed that she has not yet had access to all the material and is unable to comment on the merits at this time. Andreis Vicente's lawyer stated that he requested access to the investigation files and will take a position throughout the day. The lawyer for businesswoman Cláudia Fernanda Cândido da Silva, who is considered a fugitive, stated that "she will only come forward after having access to the process and knowing why she is being arrested." The Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Itatiba reported that it is not being investigated in this operation and denied that Cláudia Fernanda is a representative of the institution. Palmas City Hall, through the Municipal Attorney General's Office, informed that it is following the case and awaiting access to the files to comment (see full note below). Check the chronology from hiring to arrests. Hiring The City of Palmas announced on March 24, through publication in the Official Gazette of the Municipality, that it had transferred the administration of the UPAs to the philanthropic entity Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Itatiba. The institution was contracted without a bidding process for R$139 million and has a duration of 12 months. According to the municipality, with the partnership, the city hall would manage a single contract, facilitating the inspection of services. The decision also promised to expand the offer of care in pediatrics and orthopedics, within the scope of urgency and emergency. READ MORE Court suspends outsourcing of UPAs in Palmas with a daily fine of R$ 20 thousand in case of non-compliance Health secretary of Palmas is arrested by the Civil Police in investigation into outsourcing of UPAs Who is the Secretary of Health of Palmas arrested in investigation into the outsourcing of UPAs Servers demonstrated Protesters held a "simulated wake" at the North and South UPAs in protest against private management Reproduction/Sisemp On April 10, dissatisfied with the decision that outsourced services and contracts, public health workers in Palmas took two coffins with the names of the South and North units to the front of the headquarters of the Municipal Health Department (Semus), symbolizing what they called the "death of public health". According to the president of the Union of Municipal Public Servants of Palmas (Sisemp), Heguel Albuquerque, the coffins symbolized the "wake" of the UPAs. He stated that the measure was taken without due dialogue with workers, representative entities and the Municipal Health Council. Relocation of public servants With the definition of the contract, the city hall published a redistribution notice with 474 vacancies in all health network services. The employees who worked in the UPAs were relocated to health units, making it possible to extend opening hours in part of the posts. Most of these employees did not attend the UPAs on the day of the demonstration. According to a survey by Semus, 80% of professionals did not meet their schedule at UPA Norte and 65% at UPA Sul. The Tocantins State Court of Auditors (TCE-TO) even recommended the suspension of the contract, due to suspected irregularities. Court denies suspension Cláudia Fernanda Cândido da Silva is considered a fugitive Disclosure/PCTO The 2nd Finance and Public Records Court of Palmas denied the request to suspend the outsourcing of UPAs on April 13th. The public civil action was proposed, at the time, by councilor Marcus Vinicius Camargo (Republicans). In the decision, judge Valdemir Braga de Aquino Mendonça states that the request was denied due to "absence of the probability of the right and in view of the manifest danger of reverse damage", as the abrupt interruption of management could lead to a collapse of the health system. The action also pointed out alleged defects in the exemption from public calls and the absence of calls for those approved in a public competition. The judge stated that the legislation allows exemption from calls for health services carried out by accredited civil society organizations. MPETO gets in on the action The Public Ministry of Tocantins (MPTO) filed an appeal with the Court of Justice (TJTO), on April 15, seeking to suspend the contract. The agency claimed, at the time, that the contract violated legal standards and continued payments would imply a risk of damage to public coffers. According to the MPTO, the cooperation agreement was signed on March 5th, but the respective acts were publicized on the Transparency Portal only 20 days later, on March 25th. Furthermore, on March 9, the municipality had signed a settlement agreement for the first payment to the service provider, in the amount of R$11.5 million. City Hall has 15 days to take over the service Djavan Barbosa Court of Justice suspends contract On April 22, the outsourcing of UPAs was suspended by the Tocantins Court. With the decision, the city hall should resume direct management within 15 days, with a daily fine of R$20,000 in case of non-compliance. The court classified the situation as a “manufactured emergency”. The decision also ordered the Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Itatiba to return the payments received within five days. The document pointed out several irregularities in hiring. The main problem identified was the increase in costs. The Court of Justice found that the annual expenditure would increase from R$16.8 million to R$139.1 million. This increase, of around 800%, would occur without an improvement in the structure that would justify the value. STJ overturns suspension Palmas City Hall appealed to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), which suspended the decision that forced the municipality to resume management of the UPAs. Management claimed there was a risk of harm to health care if it were forced to take over the units again immediately. The decision was published on June 7th, maintaining outsourcing. The STJ highlighted that it did not analyze whether the partnership would be regular or not. Minister Herman Benjamin considered that the immediate execution of this order could compromise the functioning of health units. As a result, the contract remains in force until the case is judged in more depth by the Tocantins Court of Justice (TJ-TO). If the suspension of the contract is maintained by the TJ-TO, the municipality must have at least 45 days to comply with the measure, counting from the new trial. Civil Police Investigation During the legal dispute, the case also began to be investigated by the Civil Police. The investigation involves evidence of hiring direction, production of documents with suspicious dates and possible ideological falsehood within the administrative process. On June 21, public servants in the municipality were searched during Operation False Emergency. Police officers also served warrants at the address of Health Secretary Dhieine Caminski and employees who allegedly participated in the process. Secretary Dhieine Caminski; and superintendent Andreis Vicente da Costa Reproduction/Palmas City Hall Prison of the Secretary of Health The Secretary of Health of Palmas, Dhieine Caminski, and the Superintendent of Health Care, Andreis Vicente da Costa, were arrested on the morning of Wednesday, June 10, during a Civil Police operation. Businesswoman Cláudia Fernanda Cândido da Silva, who would have acted as a lobbyist in the outsourcing contract, is wanted by the Civil Police. The Secretary of Health had the arrest ordered for the convenience of criminal investigation. According to the decision, electronic messages revealed that, after the investigations began, she had used her hierarchical position to make direct contact with subordinates, suggesting an attempt to monitor and direct the statements that would be made to the police. The arrest of Andreis Vicente da Costa was based on ensuring public order. The investigation indicates that he would have written draft opinions, delivering them ready for signature by other civil servants, without there being any prior debate in the responsible committee. The fact that he enjoyed a luxury vehicle (BMW/X1) leased by Cláudia Fernanda, who would represent the entity benefiting from the contract, also weighed against him. Appointed as a representative of the benefited social organization, her arrest was also based on ensuring public order. The Court considered the risk of repeating the crime, as it responds to an administrative improbity action and another police investigation into alleged fraud in the purchase of COVID-19 tests in Palmas. Full note from Palmas City Hall Palmas City Hall, through the Municipal Attorney General's Office, informs that it is following the case and awaiting access to official information in the case file to comment. The Secretary of Health of Palmas, Dhieine Caminski, and the superintendent of Health Care, Andreis Vicente da Costa, were authorized by the Court to be taken to the Battalion of the General Command of the Military Police until a custody hearing. The actions of the Health Department continue normally, without harm to the population, including the services provided by the South and North Emergency Care Units. See more news from the region on g1 Tocantins.