Lisbon, Jan. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The president of Portugal has called for an explanation as soon as possible regarding the deaths that occurred without the arrival of Portugal's National Medical Emergency Institute (INEM) emergency services, arguing that the Portuguese people need certainty on this matter.
In statements broadcast on TVI's "Jornal Nacional" on Thursday evening, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that there must be "an explanation, a clarification, as soon as possible", without specifying by whom in the excerpt that was broadcast.
"I know it is not easy to know exactly what happened, but letting too much time pass is bad for public opinion," he warned.
In another excerpt broadcast by TVI, the head of state said that "the prime minister has announced today that there are more ambulances" and said he hoped that "they are placed where they should be, that there is a capacity to respond".
"If there are financial problems to be solved, let them be solved; if there are operational problems, let them be solved, because people need certainty, they really need clarification and certainty, as if to say: what if this happens to me?" he added.
In statements broadcast on SIC's "Jornal da Noite" on the same subject, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered that "there is a communication problem" and that "what happened must be clarified", noting that "in one case the president of Portugal's National Medical Emergency Institute (INEM) did so, in the others this was not done immediately".
Rebelo de Sousa emphasised the message that "this clarification is very important" and drew attention to "coordination problems" within the health system.
He then spoke about the future after the end of his term of office, emphasising the responsibility of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro for what needs to be done in the government.
"There is room to put in place what needs to be put in place, so that this works differently. Then what happens next? There will be a different President of the Republic, and there will be a prime minister who will decide. It is the prime minister who permanently decides what needs to be done in the Government," he said.
This week, at least three people died after calling Portugal's National Medical Emergency Institute (INEM) for help, and the emergency services did not arrive in time.
INEM has launched audits and cited a lack of resources and the retention of stretchers in hospitals, which prevents them from responding to other incidents.
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