More than 60 National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica) ambulances are stuck in mechanical workshops without repair orders, according to the pre-hospital emergency technicians union (Sindicato dos Técnicos de Emergência Pré-Hospitalar or STEPH). STEPH warned that failing to repair these vehicles jeopardizes emergency healthcare operations. The union criticized suspected management plans to replace full ambulances with lighter passenger vehicles, stressing that a new ambulance costs upwards of €100,000.
Union Warns Over 60 INEM Ambulances Await Repairs
Tuesday, 20 October 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The STEPH (Sindicato dos Técnicos de Emergência Pré-Hospitalar) is the trade union representing pre-hospital emergency technicians in Portugal. These professionals operate the ambulances and emergency vehicles for the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), playing a key role in the country's emergency medical response system.
