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Portugal's Health Minister Marta Temido resigned on Tuesday following widespread criticism of her decision to temporarily close emergency obstetric services, forcing risky transfers of pregnant women between hospitals.

The Health Ministry said in a statement Temido had decided to step down because she "realised that she no longer had the conditions to remain in office".

In a separate statement, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said he had accepted her resignation and thanked Temido for her work, which included organising a successful vaccination campaign against COVID-19.