'Doctor to the stars': who is the vascular surgeon from Rio Preto investigated in an operation against the misappropriation of SUS resources?

Vascular surgeon Gustavo Marcatto is among those investigated by the Federal Police in Rio Preto (SP) — Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

With over 329,000 followers on Instagram alone, Marcatto is 35 years old and has treated patients from 32 countries for vascular treatment . The doctor has nine years of experience and previously worked as an on-call doctor at the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) in Rio Preto.

Marcatto graduated from Unicastelo, now known as Universidade Brasil, in Fernandópolis, São Paulo , and completed his general surgery residency at the Rio Preto School of Medicine (FAMERP). He then completed his vascular surgery degree at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (IMC) in Rio Preto. He is a full member of the Brazilian Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (SBLMC).

Gustavo has become known for using lasers and cutting-edge technologies to aesthetically treat varicose veins and blood vessels. At his clinic, he has seen patients such as actress Deborah Secco, model Andressa Suíta, singer Zé Neto (part of the duo with Cristiano), Helen Ganzarolli, Ticiane Pinheiro, Ana Hickmann, Luciana Gimenez, and Adriane Galisteu.

The vascular surgeon shares the results of procedures performed on patients daily in his stories.

The report is trying to contact the doctor's defense, who did not respond to questions until the last update of the article.

In total, four warrants were served in Rio Preto, in addition to the seizure of assets worth R$5 million from each of the people involved.

Those investigated were removed from public office and are barred from contracting with the government . Vehicles, weapons, high-value motorcycles, and precious stones were also seized.

Public officials were removed, including the current Health Secretary of Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul , who was dismissed. In a statement, the city government said it was not informed of the operation and was unaware of the facts and developments.

Through investigations, the Federal Police identified evidence of contractual non-performance, as well as overbilling and overpricing in the Price Registration Record (ARP) and in the respective administrative contracts.

It also identified the existence of multiple administrative contracts, some of which were not published on transparency websites, containing identical objects, simultaneous validity and the same contracting parties, resulting in multiple payments for the same surgical procedure and contracted medical service.

Furthermore, it was discovered that one of the contracted medical clinics did not actually exist. Of the 13 search and seizure warrants, six were executed in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul, three in Aparecida do Taboado, Mato Grosso do Sul, and four in São José do Rio Preto.

The name of the operation refers to the absence of traces/trails that the contracted surgical procedures should leave, such as medical records and use of a hospital "dirty room", but which, in this case, they did not leave, given the repeated breach of contract attested by audits and technical inspections.

At the end of the investigations, those involved may be held responsible for the crimes of embezzlement, appropriation and diversion, fraud in bidding processes, money laundering and criminal association, the combined penalties for which may range from ten to 33 years in prison.

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