“The Liberal Initiative will submit to parliament a request for a parliamentary inquiry into the management of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM),” reads a statement from the party to the media.
This announcement comes a day after it was reported that a report by the General Inspection of Health Activities (IGAS) concluded that the death of a man in November 2024, during the INEM strike, could have been avoided.
In the statement sent to the media, the Liberal Initiative emphasizes that “the potential delays in attendance during the November strike raised questions about a possible link between the strike and the death of patients.”
“This was yet another episode demonstrating the clear lack of resources that INEM has to adequately respond to the population. Years of poor management have put patients’ lives at risk,” the party states.
The Liberal Initiative thus wants to hear “those responsible for the degradation of the service and the working conditions of INEM professionals,” including former PS health ministers Marta Temido and Manuel Pizarro, as well as the current minister, Ana Paula Martins.
The party also wants to hear from the current president of INEM, Sérgio Janeiro, as well as the two previous presidents, Luís Meira and Vítor Almeida, and the institute’s unions.
This Wednesday, it was revealed that an IGAS report concluded that the death of a man in November 2024 could have been avoided if he had been assisted in a minimal and reasonable time.
This case dates back to November 4, 2024, when two strikes took place simultaneously— one by emergency medical technicians on overtime and another by the public administration.
The conclusions were initially reported by Expresso and confirmed by an IGAS statement sent to Lusa.
