If the national sub-systems under the supervision of the National Government pay what they owe to the Region, regional hospital would be able to pay medicine supplier "on time," assured the Regional Secretary for Health at the Azorean Parliament today.

According to Miguel Correia, the national sub-systems owe 28 million Euros to the three regional hospitals and this debt rises to 40 million if we take into account the island health units.

If PSD/Açores wants to help us in this matter, it should "ask the National Government to pay the Regional Government the amount it owes" instead of blaming the Regional Government for the late payment to medicine suppliers, said the government official.

Recalling that Azorean hospitals are funded likewise the hospitals "of similar size and clinic complexity" in Mainland Portugal, Miguel Correia stressed the average delay in payments to medicine suppliers in the Azores is much lower compared to Mainland Portugal (210 to 491).

For Miguel Correia, if the sector's economic balance appears to be possible, the financial balance appears "more complicated," if the national sub-subsystems fail to pay us.

The Secretary also noted that the Regional Government has strengthened the programme-contracts with regional hospitals, whose amounts increased from 92 million Euros in 2008 to 121 million Euros in 2012.

Compared to 2008, the amounts allocated under these programme-contracts increased 74% for Ponta Delgada Hospital, 33% for Angra do Heroísmo Hospital and 69% for Horta Hospital," revealed Miguel Correia.

As far as one can see, it is not true that we have not done anything to solve the sub-funding of hospitals, because we have done it by progressively increasing the amount of the financial transfers to hospitals.

"While discussing the Plan and Budget, this Legislative Assembly has yet to propose budget amendments in order to reinforce the budget of hospitals," Miguel Correia regretted, adding that "Assembly remained silent in November and did not propose any budget amendment." In fact, "the budget of hospitals and the Regional Health System was reinforced by the Government and PS."