The progressive implementation plan will proceed as currently outlined, and as resources from the main contract inspected by the Court of Auditors become available, the Air Force and direct contract resources will be phased out, explained the president of INEM to Lusa.
Sérgio Janeiro noted that the granting of approval to the contract between the Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica (INEM) and Gulf Med, announced today by the Court of Auditors, still requires some procedures that prevent its execution from beginning on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Court of Auditors reported that it has approved the INEM contract for the leasing of four aircraft and the acquisition of operation and maintenance services for emergency medical helicopter services.
This approval was announced one day before the Air Force is set to begin emergency medical transport on Tuesday, with four helicopters available 24 hours a day.
This transitional operation also involves two aircraft from Gulf Med that will operate only during the day, under a direct contract until the INEM contract is executed.
The involvement of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) in emergency medical transport was announced last week as a solution by the Government until the contract resulting from the public tender awarded to Gulf Med in March this year received the Court of Auditors’ approval.
The international public tender was launched in November 2024, and the final decision to award Gulf Med was announced in March this year, planning the operation of four helicopters stationed at INEM bases in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Viseu, Évora, and Loulé from July 2025 to the end of 2030.
Gulf Med stated that the investment in the four Airbus H145 helicopters was 40 million euros and intends to also develop pilot training for Portuguese pilots and create a certified training organization in Portugal.
Earlier today, before the announcement of the Court’s approval, INEM indicated that the air emergency transport will be ensured from Tuesday with four Air Force helicopters available 24 hours a day and two Gulf Med helicopters operating 12 hours a day.
The contract between the state, through INEM, and Gulf Med Aviation, includes four H145 D3 helicopters with certified crews, including Portuguese-speaking pilots.
The international public tender was awarded to the Malta-based company for approximately 77.4 million euros.
