"I was very keen to be here for two reasons: firstly to show that the 'PowerPoint' works, (...) but also to show that SNS 24 is a great bet for the entry into an emergency situation within the National Service Health", said Ana Paula Martins, who was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a visit to the SNS Grávida Line, which has been available since Saturday on the same number as SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) to help direct people to the nearest emergency room in their area of residence.

During the visit, the minister watched a simulation of a real call from a pregnant woman, answered by a nurse who completed the entire screening process and ended up indicating the nearest obstetrics emergency room where the pregnant woman should go.

According to the minister, around 1,700 people work on the SNS 24 line across the country. In the case of the SNS Grávida Line, the official explained that the operators follow an algorithm scientifically validated by the Directorate-General for Health that classifies the situation of the pregnant woman who calls this line.

When asked about the difficulties in accessing this line, she considered it "natural for embarrassing situations to occur in the first few days", highlighting: "We have to make choices and the priority for our pregnant women is something that is more than defined in the Emergency Plan".

"These difficulties must now be overcome. (...) We are not here to hide the moments that go less well, we are here to resolve them", she added.

Regarding the Summer Plan, she said that this line is also "a bet to start a new way of managing what is an emergency in obstetrics", drawing attention to the separation that is foreseen between obstetrics and gynecology situations.

The SNS Grávida line is one of the urgent measures foreseen in the health plan that the Government approved last week, with the aim of organising the pregnant circuit, particularly in urgent situations, guaranteeing a “quality and safety response”.

“Through this helpline, pregnant women will have access to qualified and trained professionals who will be available to offer personalized guidance, reassuring pregnant women and providing them with confidence throughout the process of providing information and directing them to health units with effective capacity to assistance”, states the plan.