Portugal Health Minister resigns after pregnant Indian tourist dies
On Tuesday, Portuguese Health Minister Marta Temido resigned following significant condemnation of her decision to temporarily halt emergency obstetric services and the death of an Indian pregnant lady during a hospital transfer.
The prime minister acknowledged Temido’s statement that she “no longer had the conditions” to hold the office, as reported by Portugal’s National Public Broadcaster, RTP News.
Five hours after the news of the death of a pregnant woman in Lisbon, her resignation was revealed.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa assumed in a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic that he was awaiting the resignation request of Minister of Health Marta Temido and the proposal to designate his replacement.
“The Prime Minister informed the President of the Republic of the intention of the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, to resign from her position, which she accepted,” reads a text posted on the Presidency’s website with the headline “Note on the Minister of Health’s intention to resign.”
Portugal Health Minister resigns after pregnant Indian tourist dies
A pregnant Indian woman died on Saturday after being transported to Hospital Sao Francisco Xavier from Hospital de Santa Maria on Tuesday due to a lack of openings in the neonatology division.
According to RTP News, a cardiorespiratory arrest occurred during the journey, and resuscitation efforts were performed on the transport.
According to Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte (CHULN) at the Sao Francisco Xavier Hospital, the pregnant woman was “subjected to an emergency caesarean section, with the newborn, weighing 722 grammes, being sent to the neonatal critical care unit for prematurity.”
“The mother was hospitalized in intensive care and died,” the CHULN reported, expressing the family its “deepest sympathies.”
Marta Temido will remain in office until a replacement is selected. The 15 September meeting of the Council of Ministers must approve the successor. However, the presentation can be predicted.
Antonio Lacerda Sales and Maria de Fatima Fonseca are also leaving the Ministry of Health.
She lacked the resilience required to keep the position
— Rui Cunha (@rccunha94) August 30, 2022
