Lisbon, June 5, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal's medical emergency department, INEM, stated on Thursday that it has alternative plans in place if the contract for four emergency helicopters can't commence on 1 July, as the Court of Auditors hasn't yet given its approval.
"These scenarios may involve using the current operator or others that meet the conditions required by INEM," explained the National Institute of Medical Emergency in a response to the Lusa news agency, following a warning from the Civil Aviation Pilots' Union (SPAC) that the helicopters would not be operational in July.
INEM recalled that the international public tender for the contracting of INEM's emergency medical helicopter service was awarded to Gulf Med Aviation Services Limited on 26 March 2025, following a procedure conducted by the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS).
"The process is currently undergoing preliminary inspection by the Court of Auditors, to obtain approval, without which the contract cannot be implemented," INEM said.
Concerning possible penalties, INEM clarifies that "these will be applied when provided for in the contract".
The Civil Aviation Pilots' Union (SPAC) today warned of the real risk that the four INEM helicopters will not be operational on 1 July and demanded "immediate guarantees" regarding aircraft, pilots and a transition plan.
"With less than a month to go before the start of the new contract for the provision of emergency medical helicopter services, the Civil Aviation Pilots' Union is publicly warning of the real risk that the system will not be operational from 1 July 2025," it said in a statement.
According to the contract signed between the State, through the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM), and GulfMed Aviation, four H145 D3 helicopters with certified crews, including pilots fluent in Portuguese, are expected to be operational.
However, SPAC says it has "knowledge of multiple failures in meeting these requirements."
"We genuinely want to be wrong, but the signs indicate that the helicopters have not been delivered, nor are the pilots certified to start work. The transition between operators is poorly prepared — and it is the citizens who may need help who are at risk," warns SPAC president Hélder Santinhos, quoted in the statement.
The international public tender for the INEM emergency medical helicopter service was awarded to Gulf Med Aviation Services Limited, based in Malta, for around €77.4 million.
The company will operate four helicopters on a 24-hour basis, providing air ambulance services until 2030.
The winning company has until 1 July to put the helicopters into service for INEM.
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