The head of Portugal’s emergency medical service, the INEM, (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica), has been suspended from duty by the Health Minister.
Minister Paulo Macedo has called for disciplinary proceedings to be taken involving Paulo Campos who is accused of behaviour and actions "contrary to general principles of ethics and good management."
The suspension from duties follows a recommendation by the General Inspectorate of Activities for Health (IGAS), and concerns the transfer of a patient from Cascais to Abrantes by helicopter in January this year.
Campos said that he knew the patient but in transferring him by helicopter was acting as a doctor and would have authorised such an airlift for any patient in similar circumstances.
Paulo Campos believes of the inquiry that "this whole process is rooted in a shameful lie" and states that in due course he will be exonerated.
Campos already has sent a letter to the Minister of Health in which he questions the legality of certain procedures during the inquiry and states that weaknesses in the health system “continue to endanger lives.”
In the letter, Paul Campos also lists several alleged irregularities in the inquiry into the helicopter airlift, particularly the fact that certain key witnesses were not interviewed.
A further incident has been investigated as an allegation was made that the wife of Paulo Campos was transported by an ambulance with its emergency lights on so that she could get to work on time at the hospital where she works in Gaia.
IGAS concluded that the conduct of the head of the INEM was "contrary to the general principles of ethics and good management." According to the inspection, the patient was afforded privileged treatment.
Luís Meira has taken over the leadership of INEM while this spat continues.
