remember, that
Lacerda Sales was named as a defendant by prosecutors in early June after conducting searches as part of the investigation into the twins.Antonio Lacerda Sales begins with a preliminary note before the initial statement, as part of the rationale for adjourning the hearing:
“On May 31, I received a summons to testify at the parliamentary investigative commission. On June 3, it was announced that my petition had been accepted. On June 4, I was named as an accused,” he says.
“This previous note is an expression of the fact that the thesis, which I asked for a delay after becoming an accused, is falling apart. I asked for a delay before I was made an accused,” he adds.
Initial statement by Antonio Lacerda Sales
In his opening remarks, the former Secretary of State for Health says he chose to become a doctor almost 40 years ago to save lives. “I have dedicated my entire life to serving others,” he says.
“I accepted the challenges of politics. And it was with these values that I acted as Minister of Health,” he guarantees.
Lacerda Sales states that this is a case of a degenerative disease that is almost always diagnosed in childhood, and adds that the IGAS report is “based on simple evidence and speculation.” “I can’t help but express my surprise. The IGAS report is more like an attempt to respond to media pressure,” he says.
“Clinical guidelines were followed. No one was ahead of anyone. There were no queues. I cannot be a scapegoat,” he asserts.
Finally, Lacerda Sales says he continues to collaborate in uncovering the truth that interests everyone. However, the former Secretary of State for Health cites judicial secrecy and the status of the accused and guarantees that he will remain “silent on all matters” of MPs.
MPs say CPI must continue
Deputies are discussing the refusal of Lacerda Sales in a parliamentary committee. He also guarantees that he will maintain the right to remain silent, even if it is a closed commission.
The parliamentary committee continues to insist on interrogating Lacerda Sales. Andre Ventura, He’s arrivingis the first deputy and asks if it is true that he met with Nuno Rebelo de Souza (son of Marcelo Rebelo de Souza).
“These are facts that are relevant to my actions, and I will not react to them. These are public facts that I repeat and to which you already had access,” he said.
Lacerda Sales was irritated by Andre Ventura’s insistence on the twins’ case and asked him to look him in the eye, saying his office “never received an email or official document.”
The former health minister also says he never spoke to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, António Costa or Marta Temido about the twins’ case.
Antonio Rodriguez, Deputy PSDAntonio Lacerda Sales asks how many children were treated with Zolgensma during his mandate, but he says he does not have such data.
Antonio Rodriguez also wonders whether this resource will impact the hospital’s budget. “The final results obtained by each hospital are the responsibility of the hospitals themselves,” says Lacerda Sales.
João Paulo Correia, Deputy PSensures that there are deputies who were not able to familiarize themselves with the documentation due to the very short time between the provision of documents and the commission of inquiry.
Joana Cordeiro, Deputy Illinois, and Lacerda Sales discuss the twins’ case in a lively discussion, with the former Secretary of State becoming ecstatic. “If I didn’t remember, it was because I didn’t have documentation to prove what happened 4 years ago,” he said.
“Look again in my eyes and the Portuguese in the eyes,” he repeated again. Lacerda Sales also invoked the right to remain silent several times in a series of questions from the deputy.
Joana Cordeiro asked Lacerda Sales whether Nuno Rebelo de Sousa had offered any benefits to the former health minister, a question Lacerda Sales found offensive. “This question is offensive to me,” he assured.
Joana Mortagua, from BELacerda asks Sales about the statements he made at the beginning of the meeting when he states that he cannot be a “scapegoat”.
“You just need to look at the chronology of the process to see that it did not start on October 26, 2019. This process has many predecessors,” replies the former Secretary of State for Health.
Alfredo Maya, Deputy PCPLacerda Sales asks whether he thinks there should be transparency in industry pricing and in the funding of innovative medicines in the NHS.
“I’m not the one who sets the cost of drugs or pays for them,” Lacerda Sales replies.
In the update
Author: Andrea Churra Pereira
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.