Eleven people died waiting for emergency response during strike
INEM (institute of medical emergency) has concluded that no facts were found that point to a “direct relationship” between possible failures in care and the 11 deaths allegedly associated with delays in response during the pre-hospital emergency technicians’ strike on overtime in November.
“No facts/ circumstances were found that would lead to the conclusion that the deaths that occurred were directly related to possible delays in responding to calls by CODU (Urgent Patient Guidance Centers),” reads a response from the Ministry of Health sent to right-wing party CHEGA, dated last Friday.
The document, available on the website of the Assembly of the Republic, indicates that INEM has opened an internal investigation process in the context of the strike – and that this has been taken over by the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS), which is currently investigating the deaths due to alleged delays in the CODU’s response during the strike.
The INEM investigation (which boils down to an institute investigating itself) focused on “the circumstances surrounding the reported situations of cardio-respiratory arrest that did not receive a timely response due to the delay in care during the strike period, as well as an analysis of the impact of the strike on the functioning of the CODU”.
The deaths of 11 people during the strike led to the opening of seven investigations by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, one of which has already been archived.
Last week, IGAS released one of the reports on the impact of the strike and concluded that INEM “did not receive timely communication of advance notice of the general strikes called for October 31 and November 4” of 2024.
The inspection concluded that INEM was prevented from defining minimum services because it did not receive timely notice from the Ministry of Health.
In response, the Health Minister refused to draw political conclusions, but acknowledged the need to change communications procedures in her ministry.
At the beginning of November last year, two simultaneous strikes – by public administration and INEM technicians working overtime – led to dozens of emergency services being stopped and significant delays in responding to calls to the CODU, shining a stark light on staffing shortages.
The conclusions of the investigation process initiated by INEM were released today by Público. ND
Source material: LUSA
