Emergency medical technicians have announced a two-day strike for September 14 and 28 to protest the government's new organizational law for the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM). The union, STEPH, claims the reform will remove over 100 ambulances from the emergency system by transferring them to Local Health Units (Unidades Locais de Saúde or ULS), though the INEM president maintains that response capacity will remain unaffected.
Emergency technicians schedule strikes for September
Thursday, 13 August 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.
7 sources
- Union says ambulance that transported Marcelo is an example of INEM's "reduction of resources"publico.pt ·
- INEM workers to strike on 14 and 28 Septembereco.sapo.pt ·
- INEM emergency technicians to strike in Septemberobservador.pt ·
- INEM technicians to strike again on 14 and 28 Septemberdn.pt ·
- INEM workers on strike on September 14 and 28cmjornal.pt ·
- INEM schedules strike for 14 and 28 Septembercnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- Against "dismantling". INEM technicians to strike on September 14 and 28rtp.pt ·
