INEM emergency airlift helicopters will be out of commission in Lisbon and the Algarve over Christmas. The reason, explains national tabloid Correio da Manhã, is a chronic lack of available doctors.
It is a problem that has been “ongoing for months” and will affect INEM heli support in Évora over the New Year, adds the paper.
In fact, the ‘lack of doctors’ on INEM helicopters is at its worst in the south of the country.
CM explains that Lisbon suffers from “a 3.6% level of inoperability” as a result, Évora of 1.5% and Loulé of 0.6%.
Pressed for an explanation, INEM told the paper: “flights are assured by doctors depending on their availability” but December is an “a typical month” due to the number of Bank Holidays.
