Private patient transport companies without fuel assistance threaten to stop

Private non-urgent patient transport companies threaten to halt services due to rising fuel costs and lack of government support. They feel discriminated against as they have been excluded from extraordinary aid measures. The president of the Portuguese Ambulance League expressed frustration over the government's silence, noting that rising fuel prices also increase vehicle maintenance costs. In 2025, over four million non-urgent patient transports were recorded by the National Health Service, with many handled by private firms. These companies are considering a slow march in Lisbon next week if dialogue with the government does not commence.