The National Institute for Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) is facing scrutiny after its new IT platform failed to correctly dispatch the nearest ambulances to emergency calls. The system, which has been active for approximately one month, has been linked to technical errors and at least one fatal case. Authorities are currently investigating the platform's performance issues.
New INEM emergency dispatch system reports critical failures
Thursday, 16 July 2026AI summary
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.
