“There is no doubt that, as Health Minister, I take full responsibility for what went wrong and I commit, on behalf of the Government, to implementing the necessary measures to restore INEM”, said Ana Paula Martins.

The Minister, who is being heard in parliament as part of the discussion on the specifics of the State Budget for 2025, began her speech by talking about the latest events at INEM, with the delays in answering calls caused by the strikes of pre-hospital emergency technicians and civil servants.

Ana Paula Martins acknowledged that the reorganisation of emergency and urgent care services is “the highest priority” for this Government and said that she will be in Parliament today “face to face” to “listen to the proposals, comments and motivations” of the deputies in order to “improve the path chosen and determined by the Government’s program”.

“I don’t run away. I don’t lie and I don’t hide”, said Ana Paula Martins.

She also said that on November 4, when the civil service strikes and the overtime strikes for pre-hospital emergency technicians coincided, “at least one of the eight-hour shifts did not meet the minimum services, due to a lack of human resources”.

Regarding the 11 deaths allegedly related to delays in answering calls, the minister said: “I deeply regret the situation that many families have experienced”.

To those affected by this “fatal outcome”, the minister conveyed her “expression of regret and solemn promise” that everything will be done to determine responsibility and whether or not there was a connection between the deaths and the lack or delay in emergency and rescue services.

The minister also expressed the hope that “the ongoing investigations can clarify these doubts”.

She also said that the waiting time for calls has increased over the years, while the number of pre-hospital emergency technicians has decreased, which currently stands at around 700.

Ana Paula Martins announced that the waiting times for calls to INEM will now be available on the institute’s website.

The average response time increased from 12 seconds in 2021 to 36 seconds in 2023 and, between January 1 and October 31, the average response time reached 68 seconds, said the minister.