The President of the Government stressed today that we must clarify that the Region owes nothing to speciality hospitals in Mainland Portugal.

Carlos César stressed that the Azorean patients covered by the National Health Services "are like another Portuguese patients. When people come to the Azores and resort to our health services we do not send the bill to Lisbon." On the contrary, "they owe to the Regional Health Service."

In this specific situation, "national ADSE (civil servants' welfare system) will owe 37 million Euros to the Regional Health System by the end of the year," stressed the President of the Regional Government.

Restating that this issue is more than a matter of principle - as "the Court has already ruled in favour of the Azores - Carlos César said that another outcome would not make sense. For example, if the Prime-Minister falls ill in the Azores and needs to be admitted to one of our hospitals, we will not send the bill to Mainland Portugal."

The President of the Regional Government spoke shortly before a meeting held this morning with the officials of Flores Health Centre to assess the operation of that health centre and identify any situation that might improve in order to improve its performance.

For now, Carlos César is satisfied with the service rendered by health centres on the islands without hospital, such as the case of Flores. Last year, over 14,000 consultations were provided at this health unit as well as over 50,000 diagnostic exams. The Flores health centre also comprises other areas such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and hyperbaric medicine.

"Hence, we are trying to do our job. I am very proud of the regional health service we have built and maintained. We are doing the best we can to improve the quality of health care."