Government studies cooperation between the Air Force and INEM for emergency air transport
The possibility of the Air Force cooperating with INEM in emergency air transport is being studied. THE “hybrid model”as the Minister of Health calls it, could replace the need for an international public tender or a new direct agreement with a company to guarantee the operation of the helicopters.
“We will have a technical assessment very soon, just a few weeks away”, guarantees Ana Paula Martins, in a hearing at the Health Commission of the Assembly of the Republic, carried out at the request of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Socialist Party (PS).
The request comes following the warning made by Court of Auditors (TdC) to the health ministerial team for not deciding to increase the base value of the international competition that had been left without competitors, and, thus, leading the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) to have to move towards a direct adjustment to hire helicopters. The case led to resignation of the previous president of INEM.
