The Regional Secretary for health presided over the opening of the First Palliative Hospital Care Unit at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada. This investment puts the Azores in a prominent position regarding the number of beds available per inhabitant.
 
Speaking at the end of a visit to the unit, Luís Cabral pointed out that, with this service in operation, the once insignificant ratio of beds per inhabitant in the Autonomous Region of the Azores is now one of the best ratios in the country.
 
The Secretary for Health added that the Terceira and Horta Hospitals are undertaking efforts towards the creation of Palliative Care Units so that we may "be the best Region in the country in terms of palliative care beds available per inhabitant."
 
The Palliative Care Unit of Divino Espírito Santo Hospital has 11 beds available in a fully dedicated space to users with medical conditions that require this type of care.
 
Patients will be transferred to the new unit during the afternoon.
 
"The implementation of this service was an old aspiration. It ensure the quality of treatments and centralise of care of these patients, providing comfort conditions both for patients and for their families," said the Regional Secretary for Health.
 
"Thus, the Regional Government fulfils another commitment for this legislative period," said Luís Cabral.