Pregnant Indian tourist dies in Portugal, health minister resigns hours later

Portugal's Health Minister Marta Temido resigned on Tuesday, five hours after the death of a pregnant Indian woman who succumbed to a cardiac arrest while being shifted between hospitals in Lisbon.

The 34-year-old Indian tourist died during an ambulance transfer from Santa Maria hospital, which had no vacancies in the neonatology service, to another hospital in the capital, news agency Reuters reported.

She underwent a caesarean section and her baby was admitted to the neonatal care unit while the mother died, local media reports stated.

An investigation has been launched into the woman's death.

Temido's resignation came after widespread criticism of her decision to temporarily close emergency obstetric services and lack of doctors, which critics believe led to the transfer of the pregnant woman between hospitals.

Temido said that she "no longer has the conditions" to exercise the position.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa said he had accepted her resignation and thanked Temido for her work and said the government would push ahead with reforms to strengthen the health infrastructure, Portugal's National Public broadcaster, RTP News reported.

In a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had already assumed that he was awaiting the resignation request of the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, and the proposal to appoint his replacement.

"The President of the Republic was informed by the Prime Minister, (...) of the intention of the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, to cease her duties, a position she accepted", reads a text posted on the Presidency's page in internet with the title "Note on the Minister of Health's intention to cease her duties".

ALSO WATCH: 'Dirty Hindu, disgusting dog': Indian-American charged for racist attack on another in USA's California

With ANI inputs