CHUA sues Nuno Marques who is in an "unbearable" position at ABC

Varnish snapped between Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve and Nuno Marques, president of the Algarve Biomedical Center

Nuno Marques - Photo: Hugo Rodrigues | Sul Informação

The Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) sued, for the second time, Nuno Marques, president of the Algarve Biomedical Center, for alleged defamation in the case of the fans that did not work. The ABC leader does not resign, but guarantees that it is “unbearable to continue working” in this consortium that, in addition to CHUA, also integrates the University of Algarve, an entity that, in this disagreement, has already placed itself on the “side” of the ABC.

The story begins in January 2021.

About a year and a half ago, Nuno Marques made public statements about the case of the 30 fans, purchased by ABC in Chinaa, with money from AMAL – Comunidade Intermunicipal do Algarve, but that didn't work.

The leader of the Algarve Biomedical Center said then that the reimbursement of the 1,3 million euros [paid to the Chinese supplier] should be requested by CHUA because it was the 'legitimate owner of the equipment'.

Nuno Marques assured that the invoice, despite being issued in the name of ABC, was in the possession of CHUA since the donation.

“As soon as any equipment is donated, the other becomes the owner. We are not the owner, we do not have any legal standing to interfere in the process », he defended.

But the CHUA had a different understanding of the case.

At that time, in statements to Agência Lusa, Paulo Neves, a member of the Board of Directors, considered that the refund should be requested… enforce the guarantees if what you have purchased is defective'.

 

Other fans delivered in June 2020 – Photo: Hugo Rodrigues | Sul Informação

 

On the same occasion, Paulo Neves also said: «I don't see how we, who don't have the invoice, who don't know the manufacturer or the intermediary, are going to go after those who haven't paid: it makes no sense».

The case ended up going from the pages of the newspapers to the courts. A first lawsuit will have been filed by the Public Ministry. But CHUA did not give up.

Contacted by Sul Informação, CHUA confirms the existence of a “legal action” related to “Public statements by Dr. Nuno Marques on the issue of fans acquired by ABC».

The administration of Algarve hospitals guarantees, however, that this is not “a new process”, which does not match what is said by the president of ABC.

In a written reaction, sent to our newspaper, Nuno Marques speaks of a «persecution» that he has «been targeted by the members of the Board of Directors of CHUA, who insist on bringing me legal actions, even after negative opinions from the Public ministry".

The ABC official repudiates “this type of behavior” which, he argues, “does nothing to improve health care and research for the benefit of the population, but only serves personal and political interests”.

Nuno Marques, who, in the same reaction, also recalls the functions of cardiologist he played at CHUA from 2005 to 2021, also recalls the work of ABC during “the pandemic”.

Even so, he defends, due to these recent events, «it becomes unaffordable to continue working on this project, in favor of the Algarve and the country».

 

hospital of Faro – Photo: Pablo Sabater | Sul Informação - File

 

O Sul Informação asked CHUA about the impacts that this disagreement will have on the work of ABC, but received no response.

As for the fans, the Board of Directors once again emphasizes the alleged guilt of the Algarve Biomedical Center.

“The situation was resolved by Dr. Nuno Marques, after acknowledging the responsibility, in this process, of the entity over which he presides", reads the clarification sent to our newspaper.

What is certain is that the topic promises to continue to be talked about.

The Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences of the University of Algarve, an academy that is also part of the ABC consortium, has already made its position public.

In a “public manifesto of support for Nuno Marques”, Isabel Palmeirim and Ana Marreiros, president and vice-president of this Faculty, express their “indignation and total repudiation” for this new lawsuit brought by CHUA to the leader of ABC.

The directorate, which sent this letter to Marta Temido, António Costa and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, even asks the Ministry of Health “to invoke this process and to intervene urgently in its resolution”.

Despite all this controversy, the truth is that fans imported from China are already able to work.

After detecting the problem that, as they assure the Sul Informação, would have more to do with software and specification differences, the equipment supplier in that Far Eastern country was contacted.

With the help of the Chinese ambassador to Portugal, the manufacturer sent a fan with everything working as it should, the rest were adapted based on the specifications and subjected to tests by the Common Use Service of Hospitals (SUCH), the from the Ministry of Health, which has to give its approval to the equipment.

And that's what happened: the 30 fans passed the SUCH tests and should arrive in the Algarve today.

 

 



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