Portugal's INEM pays €9.7M debt but risks losing firefighter partnership

Portugal's National Medical Emergency Institute (INEM) today paid fire brigades' associations approximately €9.7 million to settle overdue debts for urgent patient transport services provided in February, the institute told Lusa news agency.

The Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP) also confirmed that INEM's outstanding debt had been "paid in full today."

In a social media post, the LBP noted that another €10 million—due for services rendered in March—falls due this Thursday, the last day of the month, with payment "expected by the end of this week."

An INEM source confirmed that the March debt is set to mature at the end of this week, adding that the institute is "making every effort" to process the 474 payments to firefighters' associations and the Portuguese Red Cross—partners in the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIEM)—"as quickly as possible."

The institute is awaiting government authorization to use its management surplus to cover the payment.

According to the LBP, the "persistent delays" in INEM payments have caused "serious cash-flow problems" for the associations, particularly in meeting payroll and supplier obligations.

Under the agreement with firefighters, INEM is required to pay for urgent patient transport services by the last day of the following month.

The institute provides firefighters and the Portuguese Red Cross with a fixed monthly subsidy of €8,760 per emergency ambulance integrated into the SIEM, plus a variable rate based on kilometers traveled during service calls.

The LBP is pushing to update these amounts. INEM President Luís Mendes Cabral recently indicated there is a "preliminary agreement" to raise the monthly subsidy to €10,800, though this depends on additional budgetary funding to accommodate the increased expenditure.

Earlier this month, the LBP announced plans to terminate its pre-hospital emergency care cooperation agreement with INEM—a decision unanimously approved by its National Council, to take effect 120 days after formal notification to the institute.

"The issue isn't the amount—it's the breach of contract," stressed LBP President António Nunes, clarifying that INEM is legally bound to pay firefighters for pre-hospital care within the month following service delivery, a requirement he said has not been met in recent months.