The national coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE) today described the possible closure of the Algarvian branch of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) as utterly irresponsible, warning that public safety is at stake.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting with officials from the Algarve delegation in Loulé, José Manuel Pureza said that, if implemented, the measure would amount to “sheer irresponsibility”, particularly in a region of the country where the resident population triples for three months of the year.
The closure of the Algarve INEM branch would transfer power to a centralised entity, something which critics of the move have warned may negatively affect ambulance team coordination, management, and response times.
“[…] It is sheer irresponsibility to end this service, to strip it of autonomy, to remove its independent existence. It makes no sense whatsoever, it is pure irresponsibility,” the politician stressed, urging the Health Minister, Ana Paula Martins, to clarify what is planned.
The regional INEM headquarters in the Algarve, representing an investment of around €2 million, was inaugurated in only May 2024 at a ceremony attended by the minister herself.
The Independent Technical Commission (CTI) tasked with restructuring INEM proposed the creation of a single call-handling centre merging the Urgent Patient Guidance Centre (CODU) with SNS24, to be supported by three regional hubs in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, thus shutting down smaller regional response hubs.
Under that proposal, the Algarve regional delegation would be left out of the organisational structure of the future Public Emergency and Pre-Hospital Medical Service as part of the overhaul of the emergency medical system.
“This institution had a moment in 2012, during the troika period, when its autonomy was lost. It regained it in 2023 and now the Independent Technical Commission’s report ignores the existence of this service in the Algarve. What appears to result from the report is a return to a situation where INEM Algarve did not exist autonomously,” he said.
Calling the potential closure “absolutely unacceptable”, Pureza added it would be “a very heavy blow” to the region’s health sector, which already faces structural shortcomings.
“We know only too well that the Algarve Hospital remains a constantly delayed promise. Meanwhile, even emergency medicine faces shortages of specialised services in existing hospitals in this part of the country, meaning people often have to be sent to Lisbon to receive necessary clinical care. There is therefore a major deficit in provision, assurance and safety, in short, in healthcare in this territory,” he emphasised.
For the Left Bloc proponent, this is “a matter of national policy that requires courage to resolve”, adding that the party will do “whatever is necessary” to ensure that happens, although no formal announcement has yet been made regarding closure of the service. Whilst their promises are noble, it must also be remembered that the Bloc only has one MP in Parliament, and no regional mayors under their banner.
“The Left Bloc is here to tell the Health Minister not to dare follow what is set out in the report, because that would be an attack on the safety of people in the Algarve and on their right to healthcare, tt cannot happen,” he argued.
Pureza also called on the minister to quickly clarify what will happen to the Algarve INEM delegation, saying the issue cannot be left in limbo.
“It is true that restructuring the national emergency medical service must take the time required so that decisions are made carefully and maturely. But there is a legitimate alarm among the Algarve population that needs to be calmed swiftly,” he concluded.
The INEM regional building in Loulé houses a training centre, the Urgent Patient Guidance Centre (CODU), regional coordination and nursing offices, logistical support and operational facilities.
The building forms part of Loulé’s Security and Civil Protection complex, which also includes the municipal firefighters’ station, the Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command, and the municipal heliport, one of the bases for INEM helicopters.
Source: Sul Informação
