During a parliamentary debate on the state of the nation, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro responded to a query from the sole deputy of PAN by stating that, after hearing criticisms regarding emergency services, the government found a “very complex and weak situation” at INEM, and assured that a “very significant effort” is underway.
The Prime Minister indicated that this effort will entail “renewing the vehicle fleet” and adopting a “new management model.” He mentioned that the Independent Technical Commission is finalizing a study on this model and plans to incorporate an idea proposed by the PS.
“Earlier, I did not mention this to Deputy José Luís Carneiro. We will submit this contribution to the independent technical commission and will later assess how it can be implemented,” he said, referring to the socialist leader’s proposal to establish a coordination unit for hospital emergencies.
Inês de Sousa Real had criticized the government for not utilizing funds allocated in the State Budget for hiring 400 INEM technicians and questioned whether the country would have an “emergency and contingency regime in hospital health” in obstetrics and pediatrics before September.
“So pregnant women do not have to travel kilometers, or women who cannot afford to pay for a taxi when there is no response from INEM on the other end of the line,” she added.
Regarding the hiring of hospital emergency technicians, Montenegro reminded that a competition for the admission of 200 professionals was opened in August 2024, and another competition for 200 more technicians was launched in July this year.
The PAN spokesperson also addressed the European Commission’s infringement process against Portugal in the environmental sector, criticizing the government’s inaction in this area and linking it to the fire season to critique investment in fire fighting and prevention.
“It will provide over 1.3 billion euros for National Defense, but for fire fighting and prevention, we probably have not even half of the corresponding amount,” she stated.
Sousa Real further accused the government of trying to covertly reverse the no cullling policy in Portugal.
“I know the Prime Minister even adopted an animal. This should be a promoted practice throughout the country and not just by some. But for that, funds need to reach the associations,” she added.
[Updated at 6:35 PM]
