Health Minister Ana Paula Martins announced the dismissal of Tiago Martins da Silva, head of the Algarve Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve or ULS Algarve), following patient deaths at Portimão Hospital. Martins cited a lack of confidence in hospital management after emergency service disruptions led to fatal delays in medical care.
The dismissal follows inquiries into at least three deaths, including two elderly patients who died after prolonged waits and a two-year-old child who arrived when pediatric emergency services were closed. The General Inspectorate of Health Activities (Inspeção-Geral das Atividades em Saúde or IGAS) is inspecting the unit and examining additional cases, while the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público) opened parallel criminal investigations. Medical staff and the Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos) had previously sent dozens of warnings to hospital administrators detailing unsafe waiting times and severe staffing constraints.
