The Garcia de Orta Hospital has temporarily suspended voluntary pregnancy termination services, prompting the government to mandate that hospitals must guarantee access to these procedures or cover costs at other facilities. An inspection by the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS) identified structural and operational planning failures within the Almada-Seixal Local Health Unit. The Left Bloc (BE) has requested an urgent hearing with Health Minister Ana Paula Martins to address the service disruption.
Almada-Seixal abortion services face temporary suspension
Tuesday, 18 August 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
IGAS is the Inspectorate-General for Health Activities (Inspeção-Geral das Atividades em Saúde or IGAS), the government body that inspects and audits public and private health services, investigates complaints and can recommend sanctions or changes. After reported failures in emergency care, IGAS can open inquiries, publish findings and advise the Ministry or the SNS on corrective measures; residents and patients can also file complaints that IGAS may investigate.
Ana Paula Martins is a Portuguese pharmacist and politician who has served as the Minister of Health in Portugal since April 2024. A member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), she was reappointed to the position in the second government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in June 2025.
Professional Background
Pharmaceutical Leadership: She served as the President of the Order of Pharmacists (Bastonária da Ordem dos Farmacêuticos) from 2016 to 2022.
Hospital Management: She was the President of the Board of Directors of Hospital de Santa Maria (CHULN) in Lisbon from December 2022 to January 2024.
Academic Work: She holds a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy and has been an assistant professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon for over 20 years.
Political Career
Government Role: As Minister of Health, she has overseen the implementation of the "SNS Emergency Plan" and recently addressed issues such as INEM staffing and public-private partnerships in healthcare.
Party Leadership: She served as Vice President of the PSD under Rui Rio (2021–2022).
Parliament: She was elected as a member of the Assembly of the Republic representing the Lisbon constituency in 2024.
5 sources
- Government warns that hospitals must guarantee abortions on time and cover costscmjornal.pt ·
- IGAS identifies planning failures in the Gynaecology and Obstetrics department of ULS Almada-Seixalcnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- Government warns hospitals must guarantee timely abortion services and cover costs; PCP, PS, and BE demand explanationspublico.pt ·
- IGAS identifies planning failures in the Almada-Seixal Gynaecology and Obstetrics departmentrtp.pt ·
- Gynecology in Almada closed 60% of the time, says IGASobservador.pt ·
