Firefighters threaten to stop using INEM ambulances if debts are not paid by the 23rd

The Portuguese Firefighters League today demanded that the government pay the debts of the pre-hospital emergency service by Wednesday, threatening to suspend, for one day, the use of ambulances from the National Institute of Medical Emergency.

The decision was unanimously approved today at the meeting of the National Council of the Portuguese Firefighters League ( LBP ), in protest against payment delays by the Ministry of Health.

Speaking to Lusa, the president of LBP, António Nunes, said that there is no payment forecast, so if everything remains the same, next Friday, July 25, the corporations will refuse to use the INEM ambulances that are assigned to them, with more costs for the State.

"The Ministry of Health, in particular INEM , is experiencing delays in paying for services provided by fire departments in pre-hospital emergencies, and this is creating many difficulties for humanitarian associations. Although INEM intends to make these payments, this has not happened," said the official.

The month of May has not yet been paid, with reference to services from April, March and February, he added, despite the Ministry of Health having informed the firefighters that there was an agreement with the Ministry of Finance "for the release of the funds necessary to pay for these services and to regularize the treasuries of humanitarian associations."

This "has not happened so far and there is no foreseeable date for it to happen," added António Nunes.

In this sense, the LBP National Council established a deadline until Wednesday, July 23, to receive this funding.

If this does not happen, "on Friday, the 25th, throughout the day, the firefighters will not go out with the INEM ambulances and will provide all necessary assistance with the fire department ambulances," explained the LBP director.

According to António Nunes, this option will not harm the population, because humanitarian associations have enough ambulances of their own to provide pre-hospital care.

They will be "the same crews, but in the corporations' own ambulances," explained António Nunes, noting that this option will cost the state more.

"The costs are always borne by INEM," he warned, highlighting that each departure of the state vehicle involves a cost of 21 euros to be given to the fire department, the use of the associations' ambulances involves an expense of 45 euros per service.

The National Council also decided that the next national congress of the LBP will be held on November 15 and 16, in Alcobaça.