Minister says “difficulties” in having INEM helicopters will be overcome by Thursday

The Minister of Health admitted today that there are “constraints” and “difficulties” in obtaining emergency medical helicopters from July 1st in Portugal, but she expects these problems to be overcome by Thursday.

“We are finalizing solutions to effectively ensure that by July 1st the medical emergency system will continue to have the aircraft we need in the national territory”, declared Ana Paula Martins, on the sidelines of the solemn session of the bicentenary of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, which was celebrated this morning in the Aula Magna of that academic institution.

The minister admitted that there have been “some difficulties”, but added that they will be “clarified”, “very promptly between today and tomorrow [Thursday] so that we understand what is actually at stake”.

“We have strong prospects of overcoming these constraints,” he said.

On June 5, the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) guaranteed that it had alternative scenarios for the possible impossibility of the contract for the four medical emergency helicopters coming into effect on July 1, due to lack of approval from the Court of Auditors.

“These scenarios may involve using the current operator or others that meet the conditions required by INEM”, explained INEM in a response to the Lusa news agency, following the warning from the Civil Aviation Pilots Union (SPAC) that the helicopters would not be operational in July.

INEM recalled that the international public tender for the contracting of INEM's medical emergency helicopter service was awarded to the company Gulf Med Aviation Services Limited on March 26, 2025, after a procedure conducted by the Ministry of Health's Shared Services (SPMS).

According to the contract signed between the State, through the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), and the company GulfMed Aviation, four H145 D3 helicopters with certified crews, including pilots fluent in Portuguese, should be operational.

However, SPAC says it is “aware of multiple failures to comply with these requirements.”

“We genuinely want to be wrong, but the signs indicate that neither the helicopters have been delivered, nor are the pilots certified to begin their duties. The transition between operators is poorly prepared — and the ones at risk are the citizens who may need assistance,” warns SPAC president Hélder Santinhos, quoted in the statement.

The international public tender for the contracting of INEM's medical emergency helicopter service was awarded to the company Gulf Med Aviation Services Limited, based in Malta, for approximately 77.4 million euros.

The company will operate four helicopters 24 hours a day, ensuring emergency medical care by air until 2030.

The winning company has until July 1st to place the helicopters at the service of INEM.