Director of Portimão’s ‘urgências’ “has been on medical leave for several months”
A new television exposé has revealed that the director of Portimão Hospital’s ‘urgências’ (A&E) department has been on medical leave for several months “but continues to give consultations at a private clinic owned by her father”.
CNN Portugal/ TVI accepts that Maria Inês Simões is pregnant, but has been “in a situation of temporary incapacity” with regards to work “since September 18, 2024”.
The doctor has nonetheless been working at MediArade “which is owned by her father, in spite of the medical leave” and continues to do so.
“A TVI journalist telephoned the private clinic and managed to book a consultation with the doctor”, explain reports.
According to lawyer Paulo Veiga e Moura, interviewed by the station, “this is a fraud (against) the state.
“If she has a high-risk pregnancy or is on medical leave, it is because she is unable to work,’ and if someone “is unable to work at INEM (the institute of medical emergency), they are unable to work anywhere else,” he stressed.
But this does not appear to be the opinion of state authorities. According to TVI/ CNN’s report, Social Security has been informed, and has archived the complaint “for lack of information and evidence”.
It appears that a complaint has also been made to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
This is just one of a number of ‘journalistic investigations’ causing discomfort to the powers that be. There is also the matter of the former INEM boss caught moonlighting in state hospitals for tidy sums; the MP caught stealing other people’s luggage and then allegedly selling items from stolen suitcases on the internet – and the case of Bloco de Esquerda having sacked ‘breastfeeding mothers’.
As at least one leader writer has commented, these cases would almost certainly have passed unnoticed were it not for the energetic people within the nation’s media.
A further embarrassment (see story to come) centres on a secretary of state with conflicts of interest.
But as for this situation, Maria Inês Simões, has stressed that she receives “absolutely nothing” for the work she carries out.
Media outlets picking up on this story have added that “Maria Inês Simões was honoured by the President of the Republic after being part of the INEM team that went to Turkey on an aid mission following the 2023 earthquake. The team was chosen by Gandra de Almeida, who recently resigned as head of the SNS national health service over accumulation of functions”.
