Dr. Vitor Almeida, who resigned as INEM president a week later, explained that he did not do so for professional reasons, but because the government had not given him guarantees that the problems at the institute would be resolved.
Speaking to RTP and Antena 1, Vitor Almeida said he was asking for guarantees of legal protection in the event that the Court of Auditors fails to implement INEM’s “hélis” contract, which would put the aid at risk, as well as guarantees of a “significant” increase in INEM’s funding. “The fleet is pathetic, the professionals have no dignity to do their job,” he said.
Vitor Almeida also warned of a “collapse” of the Integrated Emergency Health System. “It is in crisis, it is collapsing, it is not a current problem, but it is urgently necessary to solve it.”