The Ministry of Defense clarified that an Air Force helicopter, tasked with transporting a patient from Covilhã to Coimbra, had to wait with its engines off for the patient's arrival. The operation, which took a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes from takeoff in Montijo to the delivery of the patient in Coimbra, included waiting time at Castelo Branco airfield.
According to the Ministry, the EH-101 helicopter departed Montijo at 22:05 and landed in Castelo Branco at 23:20, where it turned off its engines while awaiting the patient. The delay has sparked discussions about the efficiency of emergency medical transfers in Portugal.
The case involves a 49-year-old patient with trauma injuries, who reportedly waited over five hours to be transferred from Covilhã Hospital to Coimbra. The Ministry of Health has deferred explanations to the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), which has yet to provide clarifications.
This incident raises questions about the coordination between health services and emergency response units, highlighting potential areas for improvement in Portugal's medical evacuation procedures.
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