Former Secretary of State for Health Antonio Lacerda Sales said this Thursday that he is waiting for documentation to “try to remember” the case of the twins, declaring that he will only respond “in his own capacity” in the courts and in court. medical checkup.
Lacerda Sales was questioned this Thursday by journalists after leaving the plenary session about the statements he has already made in this case, published by TVI, and which involves the use of the drug Zolgensma – one of the most expensive in the world – for muscle wasting. two twins received a spinal cord at the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon.
“The only thing I can say and do is to repeat what I have already said many times: there is currently an ongoing investigation process against unknown persons, obviously, to which I can and must respond only at my own headquarters, which is DIAP (Department of Investigations and Criminal Cases) and IGAS (Inspectorate General of Medical Activities), and taking into account knowledge of the facts,” he said.
The former government official and current lawmaker said, as he previously told the media, that on Wednesday he asked the government for documentation on the case, which dates back to 2019.
“When I say I don’t remember, I really don’t remember. I need facts and I need documents to have access and try to remember,” he said, emphasizing that four years have passed since “the pandemic hit.” quite.”
On Monday, Antonio Lacerda Sales said that no secretary of state has the power to make appointments, influence or violate the conscience and autonomy of any doctor.
According to TVI, the first consultation for the twins was ordered by the Secretary of State to the director of the pediatric department of the Santa Maria Hospital.
On this occasion, Lacerda Sales did not want to comment further on the case, since the investigation is underway in court, and said that he did not remember the case of the twins.
The parliamentary health committee today “refused” a request from IL, which, among other organizations, intended to hear former sector governors Marta Temido and Lacerda Sales.
Also today, the PS announced that it will summon the current Minister of Health, Manuel Pizarro, and the President of the Santa Maria Hospital, Ana Paula Martins, to Parliament, stressing that “Parliament controls the organs of government and public administration, and therefore whoever is in power.”
The twins’ case was revealed in a TVI report aired in early November, according to which two Portuguese-Brazilian children traveled to Portugal in 2019 to receive the drug Zolgensma.
According to TVI, there were suspicions that this happened under the influence of the President of the Republic, who denied any interference in the matter.
In a statement to reporters at the Belem Palace on Monday, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza confirmed that his son Nuno Rebelo de Souza contacted him about the case in 2019. The head of state said that the attitude towards the twins’ case was neutral. and, like many others, and reported that correspondence in the Presidency of the Republic on this matter was sent to the Office of the Attorney General (PGR).
In addition to the PGR, the case is being investigated by IGAS (Inspectorate General of Medical Activities) and is also the subject of an internal audit at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte, of which the Santa Maria Hospital is part.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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