The Socialist Party structure has stated in a communiqué that “if there was political responsibility, the minister would have already resigned or been dismissed.” They argue this has not happened “because she is attached to a position where she does not serve the interests of the people and leaves women who are about to give birth in neglect.”
“The country has witnessed an increase in births taking place in ambulances and other transport means, a situation that has worsened significantly over the past year, now culminating with the birth of a baby in a public street,” they add.
The Socialist Women reference the case of a young pregnant woman who gave birth on a street in Carregado, Alenquer municipality, prompting the Health Minister to request the Health Activities General Inspectorate to open an inquiry.
In the communiqué, the socialists emphasize that despite the “happy outcome,” the “case illustrates an inoperative State, a Government absent on vacation, and a deafening silence from those in power.”
“The country is at a standstill, and the Minister does not care, nor does she present any solution to the severe and recurrent problems emerging with pregnant women. Silence is complicit,” it reads.
In statements to Lusa, Susana Correia, coordinator of the PS parliamentary group in the Health Commission, did not discuss the minister’s resignation but highlighted the Socialist bench’s “extreme concern” regarding what is known about the case in Carregado, lamenting that Minister Ana Paula Martins chooses to “delay responses.”
The deputy argued that in addition to the Health Minister, the Prime Minister should also speak out, adding that the “criticisms that have been made” against Ana Paula Martins “are starting to be a waste of time” because they have not resulted in accountability for the minister.
“The minister is not managing to meet the demands of public health service. We cannot be misled from tragedy to tragedy, claiming to be here to solve problems when they are worsening. We may reach a point of no return,” she warned.
