INEM disputes debt amount claimed by firefighters
The president of the National Institute for Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), Luís Mendes Cabral, stated that the institute owes approximately 9.7 million euros to firefighters for February patient transport. This figure is less than half of the amount claimed by the Portuguese Firefighters League (Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses or LBP).
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.
The Portuguese Firefighters' League (Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses) is a national, non-governmental association that represents and coordinates many of Portugal’s fire brigades—particularly volunteer corps—and advocates for training, equipment and fire-safety policy. It frequently engages with government and the media on emergency-response standards and resource needs, so expats should know it can influence local fire services, public safety campaigns and how mutual aid is organised in their municipality.
