The Regional Secretary for Health welcomed today the agreement that was reached between the Regional Section of the Nurses' Association and the Regional Health Inspectorate (IReS). In this context, the government official considered that the agreement "regards the Regional Inspectorate not as an adversary, but rather as a partner."

"I want to express my deep satisfaction with the signing of this agreement, not only for what it can bring from an operational standpoint, but also for the intention of reversing that the widespread idea about the Inspection services. In fact, it focuses on the spirit of collaboration to improve the aspects that need attention," said Luís Cabral during the signing of the agreement in Angra do Heroísmo.

Under this agreement, the Regional Health Inspectorate will provide technical support to some situations as requested by the Nurses' Association. In turn, the Inspection services will become better acquainted with all matters involving nurses, whether in inspections, audits, investigation or disciplinary procedures.

In addition to including a supervisory component, the agreement also provides cooperation actions in terms of prevention by including the organisation of awareness raising actions addressed at nurses and other health professionals.

"This agreement also aims to demonstrate the regional inspection services are an ally and not a competitor, regardless of the disagreements that may exist," stressed the government official.
"I challenge other health professionals to follow the good example of the Nurses' Association," Luís Cabral added, stressing that "the regional health department, through its inspection service, is always open to proposals and is committed to analyse them whenever they may be beneficial to the interested parties and to public interest."

In 2013, the Regional Health Inspectorate carried out 77 actions, including audits, inspections, monitoring of the private sector, offenses, investigation and disciplinary procedures, follow-up processes, analysis of complaints, and the issuing of reports and information.

Of these 77 actions, 23 were carried out in the private sector, which corresponds to 29% of the total actions, while the remaining 54 actions concerned the public sector, i.e., 71% of the total actions.

By mid-2014, the IReS already carried out 51 actions, most of which are complementary. It is expected that the number of actions will exceed those of last year, which includes the regular actions that have yet to be implemented.