New support model for displaced patients to "help those who are most in need," announces Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Regional Government announced today a new model for the support of displaced patients with the aim of introducing fair criteria to help "those who are most in need."
"The Government of the Azores is concluding a new model for the support of patients which, besides significant differences in its methodology, is intended to provide assistance to those who need the most," assured Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government spoke at the end of a visit to the works of the Health Centre in Ponta Delgada.
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government stressed that the new financial support model for Azorean patients who have to the travel to another island or outside the archipelago will be published in coming weeks and, subsequently, enter into force.
In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro noted that an Azorean patient who needs to travel up to 30 days would be entitled to a daily allowance of 20 Euros under the current model. With the new model, which will be based on the income of patients, this daily amount will increase to 45 Euros.
"This represents a significant investment that clearly evidences the commitment taken to improve the response provided by the Regional Health Service to the Azorean population, namely in terms of infrastructures, human resources and travel of patients," said the President of the Government.
Vasco Cordeiro visited the works of the new Ponta Delgada Centre, an investment over 16 million Euros. According to him, the works are being carried out according to plan and within the estimated financial schedule.
This new building to be completed by the end of this year will "provide better conditions to the Regional Health Service, particularly in terms of infrastructures," said the President of the Government.
According to Vasco Cordeiro, the work is part of a series of investments carried out in several infrastructures of the Regional Health Service, which represents an overall investment of 50 million Euros. The interventions cover the Vila do Porto Health Centre, the new Madalena and Graciosa Health Centres, the Block C Building of Horta Hospital and "Solar" da Glória; the latter will include youth treatment and rehabilitation unit.
"However, the Government of the Azores is not solely focused on this type of investment. In fact, it also supports private initiative by improving accessibility conditions," Vasco Cordeiro assured, pointing out , as example, the future radiotherapy centre, a private investment funded by the regional incentive scheme.
The President of the Government highlighted the Government's effort towards the hiring of more human resources, announcing the authorisation to hire up to 20 doctors this year to improve the access of the Azorean population to the Regional Health Service.
The new Ponta Delgada Health Centre, included in Regional Public Works Charter, is being built next to Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada. It will provide a response to several areas: General Practice, Maternal Health, Child and School Health, Oral Health, Promotion of Health, Psychological and Social Support, and Rehabilitation Care.
With about sixty offices, the building covers an outdoor area with 41,000 m2, a gross construction area of 10,500 m2 and a floor area of 3,105 m2.
Furthermore, the new Health Centre will have car park with 908 spaces, including the additional 602 parking spaces that will be provided for the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada.