With regard to the request on infant mortality in the Azores, submitted by the parliament members of PSD/Açores to the National Assembly, the Regional Secretariat for Health has clarified that the measures listed in the response have been embodied in the regional legislation since 2007 in addition to being reinforced in Regional Maternal and Child Health Plan.

It suggests the creation of Coordinating Operational Units in the population areas covered by each hospital. But, an order issued on August 8, 2007 established a coordinating structure designated as Operational Centre (NF) that defines its composition and powers. This order adopts the national legislation to the Region.

The implementation of Regional Health Plan for 2009-2012, the Regional Maternal Health and the Family Planning Programmes has led to the creation of the "Maternal and Child Referral Network and the transfer network of pregnant women and newborns." In this context, the role of NF has been emphasised as a "link between Health Units and Hospitals," defining responsibilities of each area of health care, as well as "coordination structures" in the promotion of this joint work.

Moreover, the "Transfer Network of Pregnant Women and Newborn from the Autonomous Region of the Azores" provides that whenever the clinical situation of a pregnant woman requires her transfer, in-utero transport to hospital should have priority status according to gestational age and the type of care provided by paediatric services."

With regard to transportation, the Autonomous Region of the Azores is provided with a specialised team that is in charge of the transport of pregnant women and newborns in the context of patient evacuation services based on the island of Terceira.

Under the Regional Maternal Health and Family Planning Programmes, regional health centres were equipped with cardiotocographs and general practitioners received specific training so that they have the adequate knowledge and tools for the follow-up of pregnant women, regardless the training given at hospitals.

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented at the National Commission for Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health by an obstetrician at the Santo Espírito Hospital, Maria de Ornelas Bruges Armas Parreira.

In term of figures, the response states that "the Autonomous Region of the Azores has been following the evolution registered in Portugal", as demonstrated by the graphic provided by the document.
Furthermore, it also emphasises that "the small number of births registered every year is responsible for small variations in the mortality rate."
 
The document also states that the Autonomous Region of the Azores registered the lowest infant mortality rate ever with 4.5 deaths per thousand live births, compared the rates registered in the periods 2001-2005 and 1996-2000 with 5.4 and 4.7 deaths per thousand live births, respectively.