Ordem dos Médicos calls for national hospital seismic risk assessment

The Ordem dos Médicos (Order of Physicians) is calling for a national assessment of Portuguese hospitals to ensure they can remain operational during earthquakes or other major catastrophes. This demand follows a risk assessment by FUNDEC, which indicated that several public hospitals in the Algarve and Lisbon regions could become inoperable during a violent seismic event.

The medical association emphasizes that essential services, including emergency rooms, intensive care units, and operating theaters, must remain functional. The proposed evaluation should also check the availability of critical resources such as emergency power, communications, water, oxygen, medications, blood supplies, information systems, and patient evacuation routes.