The Regional Secretary for Health stated in Ponta Delgada that the new catheterisation laboratory of Divino Espírito Santo Hospital (HDES) is an example of "the investment in the renewal of the Regional Health Service" that the Government has been carrying out to "improve the quality of services provided to all Azoreans."

"As for the acquisition of equipment, the restructuring of the Regional Health Service requires the improvement of the levels of modernisation, always taking into consideration our size and geographical contingencies. In this regard, the Regional Secretary for Health has decided to invest in the purchase of new equipment for HDES, which demonstrates its attention to the needs of the Azorean population," stressed Luís Cabral.

Speaking on the sidelines of the opening of the new catheterisation laboratory of HDES, which covers the entire population of the archipelago, the Regional Secretary said the new equipment "will increase the number of treatments and reduce the radiation doses to which patients are exposed." From the standpoint of doctors, "this represents an improvement in diagnostic capability due to the improvement in imaging quality."

"The Divino Espírito Santo Hospital performs an average of 900 coronary angiographies and angioplasties on an annual basis as well as the implantation of over 30 pacemakers," the Regional Secretary. "If this room would be out of operation, a considerable number of patients would have to receive treatment in Mainland Portugal."

The new catheterisation laboratory represented an investment of nearly one million Euros, which included "the purchase of equipment and the remodelling of the room as well as the adaptation of infrastructures for its proper and safe operation," added the government official.

"With this multi-purpose catheterisation laboratory, this investment contributes to creation of a Cardio-Vascular Intervention Unit to provide a response to all Azoreans," said Luís Cabral.