The former director of the SNS says the strike at INEM has shaken the trust of the Portuguese people. In Parliament, Fernando Araújo criticised the degradation of access to consultations and surgeries within the SNS and the appointments made to hospitals.
Strike. Fernando Araújo: There was a lack of "political accountability"
Thursday, 12 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Minimum services (serviços mínimos) are the legally required basic services that must be maintained during a strike to protect public safety—in healthcare this typically covers emergency care, critical ambulance coverage and intensive care. They matter because the INEM workers' committee admitted that late or unclear communication about which teams would be available during the end-of-2024 strike may have reduced operational capacity and confused patients; as an expat, expect limited non-urgent care during strikes and check official updates or call 112 for true emergencies.
Fernando Araújo is a physician and the former Executive Director of the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS), a position he held until mid-2024. He was responsible for the Local Health Units (Unidades Locais de Saúde) reform, which integrated hospital and primary care services to improve efficiency. SNS patients should note that his public criticisms often highlight ongoing issues with emergency room wait times and medical staffing.
AI Summary AvailableINEM staff exceeded overtime limits before 2024 strikeRead the synthesized summary with context and explainers
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