António Nunes, president of the Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses (LBP), expressed criticism regarding a three-and-a-half-month delay in funding for emergency medical ambulances stationed at fire stations, during a National Council meeting in Felgueiras.
Nunes demanded immediate payment of approximately 30 million euros owed by the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) to humanitarian firefighter associations, stating that it is unacceptable for fixed expenses from September to November to remain unpaid.
He emphasized that firefighters are key partners in medical emergencies in Portugal, managing over 90% of urgent and emergency patient transport to hospitals, and agreements made with them must be honored.
Highlighting an unprecedented situation in urgent patient transport, Nunes noted that previous delays might have lasted a month but never caused issues. He pointed out that since September, payments have not been received for expenses already incurred.
“Associations have already covered costs for fuel, insurance, repairs, and permanent team salaries,” he stated.
Nunes described it as unacceptable for the state to expect firefighters to finance state operations in predictable situations.
This delay destabilizes associations, causes constraints, and complicates community relations because management is forced to seek miraculous financing solutions, according to Nunes.
Nunes explained that if the state expects 24-hour ambulance availability but fails to pay, it impacts personnel and depending on the number of ambulances, the delays can significantly affect budgets, in some cases up to 50%.
“Each association has unique characteristics. It all depends on their size and services,” he said.
During the National Council, firefighters also urged that the league be consulted in any pre-hospital emergency sector reform in Portugal.
Nunes insisted that any review or system reform process must involve the Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses as representative of these associations, demanding their presence on any committee aiming for solutions that best serve public interest.
Recent semi-official communications from various entities and Health Ministry officials about system changes have prompted Nunes to warn that the issue is critical and should not be handled casually.
Nunes asserted that necessary information should be gathered followed by partner consultations to guide decisions.
Highlighting the importance of inclusion, Nunes noted that alterations in service delivery, such as closing an emergency unit, could necessitate new ambulance contracts due to increased travel demands.
He concluded that while the government retains the final decision, all stakeholders must be consulted to prevent unsubstantiated claims from undermining the process.
