Reporting examines cases where the National Institute for Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica) — INEM — failed to arrive in time, adding to concerns about pre-hospital response amid broader pressure on emergency services. The piece links ambulance and response delays to current strains across the system rather than isolated incidents. Those relying on urgent medical care should note potential delays and ensure they understand local emergency procedures and alternative routes to care.
Investigation highlights delayed INEM emergency responses
Wednesday, 14 January 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica), known as INEM, coordinates Portugal’s pre-hospital emergency care, ambulance dispatch and medical response to 112 calls. It matters to expats because INEM is responsible for ambulance response times and on-scene care — incidents like the reported three-hour wait in Seixal can trigger investigations, affect public confidence and influence how quickly you can expect help in an emergency.
