Construction of Maternal-Infant Center in Almada Leads to Barreiro ER Shutdown
The development of the Centro Materno-Infantil da Península de Setúbal (CMIPS), attached to the Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada, has been proposed by Health Minister Ana Paula Martins as a solution to the ongoing doctor shortages causing frequent closures of obstetric emergency services in the southern bank of the Tagus River.
This project, with a public tender for its design expected to launch in 2026, will take several years to complete. Investigations reveal that it will result in the closure of the obstetric emergency department at Barreiro Hospital, although the minister has not explicitly confirmed this.
In the short term, a promised regional obstetric emergency service will move forward, concentrating medical teams at the Almada unit. The Setúbal service will remain open only for INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency) operations.
The ministry has prepared legislation to compensate professionals required to relocate to Garcia de Orta and will discuss it with unions. However, Minister Martins emphasized that the final decision rests with the government.
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