The President of the Republic welcomed the opening by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of an investigation into the case of the twins from Brazil who were treated at Santa Maria Hospital with one of the most expensive drugs in the world.
“Right now, and rightly so, an investigation has been opened against unknown people, and I think it is good,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told journalists at the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon.
“In fact, in my speech on November 4, I had said that it was important to clarify this issue, either at the initiative of those working at the institution in question or through internal audits or some form of investigation. and I am satisfied with it,” he added.
The head of state, who has already denied interfering in this case, was asked again whether he has had any intervention, whether his son has spoken to him about the case and whether he is available to finally make statements in this process.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refused to answer any questions about this case, “as he was not happy with the opening of an investigation”.
“It is more or less consistent with what I defended a month ago, and I think it is important to establish the truth,” he reiterated.
When asked whether not speaking out makes him calm, the President of the Republic replied: “I was already calm, I am still calm.”
“Those who conduct research, both internally and externally, must be given the power to conduct research.”
The Public Prosecution Service confirmed on November 24 that it had opened an investigation into the case of two twins from Brazil who were treated at Santa Maria Hospital with the drug Zolgensma, one of the most expensive drugs in the world.
“The opening of an investigation regarding the above facts has been confirmed. The case is being investigated at the Lisbon Regional Investigation and Criminal Action Department and is not taking place against a specific person for the time being,” reads a response from the Public Prosecutor’s Office – General of the Republic (PGR) sent to the Lusa agency.
This case was revealed by TVI reports, broadcast since November 3, reporting that two twins of Brazilian origin, who have since acquired Portuguese nationality, came to Portugal in 2019 to receive the drug Zolgensma for spinal muscular atrophy, which represented a valuable total of four million euros.
TVI has reiterated that in this case there are suspicions of influence from the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who denied any interference.
The case is also being analyzed by the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS) and is the subject of an internal audit at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte, of which Santa Maria Hospital is part.
In statements to journalists in Setúbal on November 4, the President of the Republic denied that he had intervened at the Hospital de Santa Maria or any other entity so that the two Brazilian children could benefit from treatments at the National Health Service (SNS).
“Me yesterday [03 de novembro] he said [à TVI] who had not done so. Didn’t. I haven’t spoken to the Prime Minister, I haven’t spoken to the Minister [da Saúde]”I have not spoken to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have not spoken to the general manager, I have not spoken to the president of the hospital, nor the board of directors, nor the doctors,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Source: DN
