The Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) and the Hospital das Clínicas (HC) held a ceremony, on November 24, 2021, in gratitude to all supporters and partners who contributed to HCFMUSP. With the contributions, the Complex became a reference in patient care with Covid-19, created clinical protocols replicated in health units across the country and was able to serve more than 9,000 people who have severely contracted coronaviruses, from March 2020 to the current moment.

The ceremony began with the exhibition of an institutional video from HCFMUSP and FMUSP. Afterwards, another video showed the beginning of the pandemic in the city of São Paulo, displaying images of Hospital das Clínicas and its employees, and then sending a message of gratitude to everyone who invested in health, science and life.

The donations to HCFMUSP enabled the training of employees and the hiring of an additional 2,500 health professionals, who work directly on the front lines against Covid-19. They made it possible to purchase PPE, medicines, equipment and supplies and provided for the provision of 900 beds, of which 300 were intensive care units. In addition, they made it possible for other medical specialties in the complex to maintain care assistance and advance other activities.

“We had a moving situation, where teachers left their comfort zones and gave up all the spaces that could be shared; the servers were mobilized all the time , working on the front lines. There was a spectacular and very significant participation from society, with donations that contributed in a decisive way so that we could maintain a high quality service, without leaving anyone without assistance", said Prof. Tarcisio Eloy Pessoa de Barros Filho, Director of FMUSP and President of the Deliberative Council of HCFMUSP. The Director of FMUSP also added: “The greatness of the Institution is not measured by the number of devices it has, but by the people who work for it, in addition to the partners. We consider all of you partners, brothers from the Hospital das Clínicas, the Faculdade de Medicina and USP”.

At the event, with the slogan “We wouldn't have made it without you”, more than 60 plaques were delivered to companies, hospitals, teaching and research institutions and also to individuals who made donations to HCFMUSP, representing the more than 300 supporters of the work carried out during the period of the pandemic, which is still going.

Prof. Eloisa Silva Dutra de Oliveira Bonfá, Clinical Director of HCFMUSP, mentioned some of the challenges faced against Covid-19. “We expanded the ICU beds from 85 to 300 in a 45-day period, without adequate space, without specialized staff and without ventilators available on the market. Thirty-five operating rooms were also transformed into ICU beds. Anesthetists were trained to act as intensivists and rooms for full professors became rest spaces or locker rooms for the health team. What we experienced was a real war."

At the table of honor were Prof. Vahan Agopyan, Dean of USP, Dr. Jean Gorinchteyn, Secretary of State for Health of São Paulo and Dr. Eduardo Ribeiro Adriano, Executive Secretary of the Secretary of State for Health.

Eng. Antônio José Rodrigues Pereira, Superintendent of HCFMUSP, declared: "This is a tribute to all health investors who are here. We would not have been able to do everything we did without your help. I thank you and over 20.500 collaborators, always headed by the Professors of this Institution, and who ensure that the Hospital das Clínicas at FMUSP continues to be of such strength".