The conditions for the Minister of Health to remain in office are diminishing, and a capable political reading of the ongoing situation in healthcare, coupled with the successive resignations and appointments of executive directors of the SNS and various issues all Portuguese people have been following with concern, converge towards the same conclusion,” stated Rui Tavares.
The leader of Livre addressed journalists after a meeting with the President of the Republic at the Belém Palace, concerning changes to the legal regime for the entry and stay of foreigners. During this, he was questioned about the inquiry from the General Inspection of Health Activities (IGAS).
This investigation concluded that a patient who died from a heart attack in October in Bragança, after INEM took an hour and twenty minutes to arrive, could have survived if emergency aid had been immediate.
The death occurred during a strike by pre-hospital emergency technicians.
“It is regrettable that this is the case, and unfortunately, I can’t say it surprised us because we know that the poor management of that strike by the Minister of Health had consequences,” he said, criticizing the “Government’s inability to dialogue and resolve labor issues in advance.”
Asked about what he expected from the Health Minister’s statement, moments before it happened, Tavares said he hoped for humility.
“I would expect at least some humility. The Health Minister has often presented herself to parliament, and in public debate, with an attitude of some arrogance towards opposition parties, who, when they oppose, are following the Portuguese saying: ‘forewarned is forearmed’,” he stated.
