INEM reports surge in emergency calls and faces upcoming strikes

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) in Portugal reported that July 2026 saw a significant surge in emergency calls, surpassing the winter months. The Emergency Patient Orientation Centers (CODU) recorded 153,233 calls, a 7.7% increase compared to July 2025. INEM attributes this rise to extreme heat, noting frequent cases of dehydration, exhaustion, heatstroke, and the worsening of chronic conditions.

Simultaneously, INEM faces internal labor unrest. Workers have approved a resolution calling for the resignation of president Luís Mendes Cabral and have scheduled two strikes for September 14 and 28. The Union of Pre-Hospital Emergency Technicians (STEPH) is protesting a new organic law and the removal of 100 ambulances from the operational fleet, warning that these decisions carry grave consequences for public safety.