Regional Health Service with additional investment of 95 million Euros, announces Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Government announced today that the Regional Health Service will receive 95 million Euros in additional funding this year, a “significant amount” provided for in the Supplementary Budget proposal that will be channelled to the operation of regional health units and the investment plan for this sector.
“Regarding the Supplementary Budget proposal, which will be discussed at the Legislative Assembly soon, there is a significant additional allocation of about 95 million Euros to the Regional Health Service. More than 80 million Euros are intended to support the operation of the Regional Health Service, while the remaining 14 million Euros will be directed to the investment plan,” said Vasco Cordeiro.
The President of the Government spoke after the meeting with the Boards of the Island Health Units and the regional three hospitals that took place by video conference with the aim of analysing the activity resumption process, following the first phase of the fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic in the Region.
Speaking to journalists, Vasco Cordeiro stated that, in the context of this recovery, several island health units and hospitals are in the process of recruiting more human resources, “a measure that strengthens this recovery effort that is already underway."
As regards telemedicine, which has enabled the provision of numerous consultations in the Region, the President of the Government announced an increase of more than one million Euros in funding under the programme for a more comprehensive computerisation of the Regional Health Service, which will have an overall allocation of more than 3.5 million Euros.
“The Health Voucher will receive an allocation of 1.5 million Euros, which adds up to the initial allocation of about 500 thousand Euros, rising to an overall amount of two million Euros,” stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
As for CIRURGE, the surgery waiting listing recovery programme, the President of the Government announced an increase of about 1.5 million Euros, amounting to a global allocation of 2.4 million Euros.
"These measures aim to reinforce the capacity of the Regional Health Service to quickly respond to the Azorean population in the provision of health care at this difficult time," assured Vasco Cordeiro.
Regarding the resumption of activity in island health units, the President of the Government mentioned that, in terms of medical consultations, the figures are practically at the same as those registered in the same period of 2019.
Between January and June 2019, more than 328 thousand medical consultations were carried out in the nine island health units, whereas, between January and June this year, more than 322 thousand consultations were already provided.
"As a result of the measures implemented by the boards of health units and hospitals, we expect to achieve the 2019 levels in terms of consultations by the end of the year, i.e., above 700 thousand consultations," Vasco Cordeiro said, noting that, in terms of non-medical specialty consultations, there are still situations that deserve special attention.
“In what concerns nursing services, we are progressively moving towards the 2019 levels. While there is still a difference between 10 and 15 per cent, we expect to reduce or even eliminate it by the end of the year," said Vasco Cordeiro.
With regard to the three hospitals, the President of the Government stated that, in terms of surgery and consultation waiting lists, there is also a progressive recovery in this activity due to the measures already implemented.
“At the end of 2020, we expect to achieve the figures registered in 2019 and recover from the disturbances that have arisen in the past three months as best as possible," said the President of the Government.
Vasco Cordeiro also offered a word of “public recognition” to the work of all health professionals, not only during the most intense period of the fight against the pandemic but also during this phase of activity recovery in all regional health units and hospitals.