In a statement to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the municipal bodies of Vila Nova de Gaia, where Paulo Rangel will serve as president of the Municipal Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed “total solidarity” with Ana Paula Martins when questioned about recent episodes related to health and the calls for the minister’s resignation.
“There is only this concentration of attacks on a minister when they are changing the system,” stated Paulo Rangel.
Initially, the official refrained from commenting on national matters, but after persistent questioning by journalists, he asserted that he is “extremely supportive of the Minister of Health,” describing her as “an excellent minister.”
“She certainly has all the support and solidarity of the government,” he summarized.
When asked about the ongoing criticism of Ana Paula Martins’ actions regarding the case of the pregnant woman and the baby who died at Amadora-Sintra Hospital, Paulo Rangel remarked that “no minister is responsible for medical decisions.”
“The minister will not be the one to decide whether a person should stay or leave. [This case] does not weaken anything. And I repeat, when someone is being heavily attacked–and you journalists know this very well–look at which health ministers were most attacked, it’s because they had exceptional results,” he noted.
Paulo Rangel insisted that Ana Paula Martins bears no responsibility in the case because, as he explained, “a minister does not replace the doctor.”
“So, if a doctor decides someone should stay in the hospital or leave, is it the minister who will replace the doctor in that judgment? But what does the minister know about someone’s medical situation? Does it make any sense? Does it make any sense to hold a minister accountable for a decision that is a medical one?” he questioned.
