Seven-months pregnant Indian tourist dies in Lisbon, Portugal; Health minister resigns

Portugal's Health Minister Marta Temido resigned on Tuesday following the tragic death of a pregnant Indian tourist in Lisbon. According to local reports, the 34-year-old Indian woman suffered a cardiac arrest while being moved from Lisbon's Santa Maria Hospital, because its neonatology unit was full, to another hospital in the capital.

She announced her resignation five hours after the death of the Indian pregnant woman in Lisbon. According to reports, the Indian woman was 31 weeks pregnant and taken to the Santa Maria Hospital after complaining of shortness of breath.

The reports said that after her condition was stabilised, the hospital transferred her to the Sao Francisco Xavier hospital as its neonatal department was full. She went into cardiac arrest on the way.


Her baby was delivered in good health following an emergency caesarean section.

The health minister has been facing widespread criticism over the Portuguese government's handling of staff shortages in maternity units, by temporarily closing some of them and forcing pregnant women to undergo risky transfers between hospitals.

There have been similar incidents across Portugal in recent months - including the separate deaths of two infants whose mothers had apparently been transferred between hospitals and endured long delays, it said.

The closure of some natal units has led to overflowing maternity wards and long wait times, with opposition parties, doctors and nurses pointing blame at the former health minister.