The first stone of the new Madalena health centre was laid today during a ceremony attended by the Regional Secretary for Health.
Speaking at the occasion, Miguel Correia said that "this is a moment of great significance for the Regional Government as it will bring important benefits for Pico inhabitants."

It is a modern and high quality health unit, both in construction and functional terms. A building of about 6,300 square metres - nearly five times the area of the current facilities - the health centre includes an inpatient unit with capacity for 35 people: 15 double and 5 single rooms. This unit is designed to provide a response at all levels of health care in the area of general practice, maternal health, and child and school health.

The new health centre will also provide better health care in several medical specialities, including obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and paediatrics. It will also include an obstetrics ward, allowing pregnant women from Pico the possibility of giving birth on the island, as well as an operating theatre for outpatient surgeries.

The contract works were awarded for 12 million Euros and have a completion period of 18 months.

"For all those who have doubts and have accused me and the Government of lying about this health centre, we have laid the first stone, an action that is worth a thousand words," stressed the Regional Secretary for Health.

Miguel Correia took the opportunity to convey a political message, stating that "at this time of promises, the opposition may promise everything either in the area of health or in other sectors because they do not have to say where they will get the money to implement them. On the other hand, those who hold governmental responsibilities have to make choices."

For Miguel Correia, "the accomplishment of our goals is what really matters."

In this context, the government official mentioned "the ongoing programmes with effective results, including the screenings that have helped people preventing serious diseases and the proximity programmes, such as the provision of home care; the latter has allowed us to support dozens of patients on a daily basis, placing us at the forefront of home health care nationwide." The implementation of measures to achieve faster and more effective solutions in emergency situations" was another initiative mentioned by Miguel Correia.

 The Health Secretary also refuted the accusations of mismanagement of public funds, stressing that we have been undertaking serious efforts to avoid wasting resources at regional health units, which is something that have we managed to accomplish.

"But we cannot avoid the acquisition of next-generation drugs which are now crucial in some therapeutic areas, such as oncology, or the acquisition of new equipments that allow professionals working here to keep up with technology innovation," stressed Miguel Correia.