The Regional Health Service currently provides physical therapy on all islands of the archipelago, ensuring "equal access to all Azoreans," said the Regional Secretary for Health.
 
Teresa Machado Luciano noted that 915 physical therapy treatments were carried out last year; 79% in the three hospitals in the Region. According to her, this evolution is sustained by the implementation of “Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation services in hospitals and the creation of Physical Therapy spaces in Island Health Units."
 
The Secretary for Health also revealed that the recruitment of physiotherapists is being reinforced with the opening of eight vacancies this year, which will raise the number of professionals to 70.
 
Teresa Machado Luciano spoke on the sidelines of a meeting with the Installing Commission of the Portuguese Association of Physical Therapists (APFISIO) - Azores Region. On the occasion, she considered that the increase of physical therapy care results from the “progressive ageing of the population, the need to promote rehabilitation and return to working life, and, consequently, to reduce dependency.”
 
The intervention of physiotherapists can also be beneficial in the development of mental health care and promotion of health tourism, added the government official.
 
Today's meeting is part of a joint work that has been carried out since 2017 with a view to improving the provision of physical therapy care in the Azores.