The government did not expect the “impact of the combination of two strikes” last Monday, admitted the Secretary of State for Health, Cristina Vaz Tomé, in reaction to the deaths of several people while waiting for help from INEM.
Cristina Vaz Tomé recognizes that the Ministry of Health was aware of the strikes by pre-hospital emergency technicians and the Public Service, but admits that she did not expect the impact they had on INEM’s response on Monday.
“We were aware of the strike notice. There have been strikes similar to this, the last one was in 2023. We did not expect the impact resulting from the combination of two strikes on Monday. We didn’t expect the impact”, said the government official, this Friday, in statements to journalists.
The Secretary of State for Health lamented last week’s deaths, but says that no one knows whether they would have occurred if INEM’s help had arrived in time.
“We regret what is happening, these are situations that we cannot control. We don’t know that if there had been help the cases could have happened. These are regrettable situations, which is why we are taking action”, guarantees Cristina Vaz Tomé.
The General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS) has already opened an investigation into the cases of deaths reported in recent days due to alleged delays in INEM assistance, the entity announced this Friday.
The deaths allegedly related to the lack of assistance from INEM have already led to the opening of five investigations by the Public Ministry (MP), one of which was closed due to the lack of evidence of crime.
According to information provided to Lusa by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), investigations were opened by the Public Ministry into deaths that allegedly occurred following a lack of assistance from the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) in Bragança, Cacela Velha, Vendas Novas , Almada and Ansião.
Regarding the cases of Bragança, Cacela Velha, Vendas Novas and Almada, the PGR said that “they are under investigation”.
“In relation to Ansião’s facts, following the communication of the death, an investigation was opened. Evidence collected – notably information from the GNR; the statements made by witnesses, as well as the report on the external habit carried out – the Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded that there was no evidence of the commission of a crime, and the investigation was archived”, explained the PGR about the archiving of the investigation into Ansião’s case.
The PGR also adds that “as for other situations”, it is still “awaiting information”.
PS talks about “Government negligence”
The general secretary of the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos, accused the Government this Friday of “negligence” in the case of the strike at the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), which was suspended on Thursday after a meeting between the Union of Pre-Hospital Emergency Technicians and the Minister of Health.
“The Government knew for a long time that this strike could occur and, at least, 10 days ago, that it would occur. The Government did nothing to prevent the strike or to lessen the effects of this strike”, declared Pedro Nuno Santos, in a conference of press.
“This is not just a problem for the minister. It is a problem for the entire Government and, in particular, for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister could have chosen that we are facing a serious situation, that he will investigate what happened and remove the consequences , but the prime minister chose to devalue this strike, even saying that they cannot always follow strike notices”, accuses the PS general secretary.
For his part, the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, defended this Friday that the problems at INEM “cannot be resolved” by dismissing the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, stating that this applies to “all members of the Government” .
“The political consequence, when there are problems, is to solve them, that is the political consequence. The political consequence is not, to be direct in answering your question, changing people so the problem continues, it is the opposite, it is solving the problem so that we can increasingly continue to provide a good service”, highlighted Luís Montenegro.
Speaking to Portuguese journalists in Budapest, at the end of an informal meeting of the European Council, the Prime Minister reinforced the idea: “Ministers are in the Government to solve problems, it is not to drag their feet and try, deep down, to get around problems to that, eventually, by changing the protagonists, the problems persist”.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, calls for quick solutions to the problems registered this week at INEM and believes that this is “not the time” to talk about a possible departure of the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
