After months of often acrimonious to-ing and fro-ing, the Évora and Loulé medical emergency helicopters will operate 24 hours a day starting tomorrow.
INEM, National Institute of Emergency Medicine, has issued a statement confirming: “INEM will reinforce the medical emergency helicopter service (SHEM), transferring two helicopters, located in Évora and Loulé, to continuous operation, 24 hours a day, starting October 20.”
For the time being, the helicopters based in Macedo de Cavaleiros and Viseu continue to operate only 12 hours a day, while preparations are underway for the gradual expansion of night operations in the north and centre.
INEM justified the decision to begin night operations first in the south of the country with safety concerns related to the terrain and natural obstacles, which are more significant in the north and centre, and which, therefore, require additional training for pilot teams for night flying.
The institute expects the full implementation of the 24-hour operation at the four SHEM bases to be completed by November 1, with four medium helicopters, which also have the capacity to transport incubators.
According to INEM, this operational reinforcement represents a “significant increase in air response capacity,” ensuring greater availability to assist in medical emergencies.
SHEM teams have “provided very positive feedback on the service, highlighting the speed of take-off, flight stability, and the safety and comfort of the aircraft, which contribute to more efficient care,” says INEM’s statement.
Emergency medical air transport is currently provided by Gulf Med Aviation Services, in an operation complemented by the Portuguese Air Force.
Based in Malta, Gulf Med was awarded the medical emergency helicopter service for approximately €77 million, as part of an international public tender that was expected to begin operations on July 1, but which did not happen.
As a result, INEM entered into a direct agreement (for another €4-plus million) with the same company “to prevent the interruption of the transport of patients in medical emergencies” – but the Court of Auditors has put an end to this ‘interim’ arrangement.
Gulf Med is said to be filing a lawsuit against the Portuguese State, refuting accusations from the Court of Auditors, which concluded that the company had acted in bad faith in negotiations with INEM, and should be supplying helicopters as per the initial €77 million agreement.
The international public tender was launched in November last, with the final award decision to Gulf Med announced in March this year – providing for the operation of four helicopters at the INEM bases in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Viseu, Évora and Loulé until 2030.
source : Lusa
