The Regional Secretary for Health stated that the investment in the Health Centres of Velas and Calheta on São Jorge, amounting to three million Euros, will completely change the face of primary care provided to the local population.
Rui Luís spoke at the signing of the contract work for the intervention in Velas Health Centre, a ceremony presided over the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro.
In his speech, Rui Luís stated that this investment "will ensure better working conditions for professionals as well as more and better health care for all those who need to use these services."
The changes planned for Velas Health Centre include the reorganisation and expansion of spaces, with a special emphasis on the Emergency Service, Inpatient and Physiotherapy services, and the increase of medical and nursing offices.
The Regional Secretary emphasised that both investments in São Jorge's health sector fall within the regional strategy towards a strong investment in the infrastructures of the Regional Health Service.
"In addition to investments in Velas and Calheta, the Government has already moved forward with the redevelopment of Santa Cruz das Flores Health Centre, the second phase of Block C building of Horta Hospital, the construction of Faial Health Unit and the remodelling of Lajes do Pico Health Centre," stated the government official.
Rui Luís said that the reinforcement of infrastructures within the Regional Health Service in the last years reaches 56 million Euros and another 15 million Euros are expected to be invested over this term.
"Under the scope of this strategy, the Government has also planned interventions for the psychiatric outpatient clinic at Ponta Delgada Hospital, whose public tender has already been opened, and the expansion of the Emergency Services at the same hospital, which is currently at project phase," revealed the Regional Secretary.
Besides the modernisation of infrastructures, Rui Luís mentioned the improvement of health care and the subsequent increase in productivity.
"The São Jorge Health Unit is a good example of this positive evolution in the Regional Health Service, registering an increase of more than eight thousand consultations between 2013 and 2018," stressed the government official.
In the regional context, he recalled the 33% increase in the number of consultations in a five-year period, reaching a total of 800 thousand consultations in 2018.
"This increase in productivity is not random, being the result of two major factors: the commitment of health professionals and the Regional Government's commitment to significantly strengthen the human resources of the Regional Health Service," said the government official.
The Regional Secretary also highlighted the improvement of care provided as a result of the reinforcement of health professionals. In this regard, he mentioned the entry of 400 professional into the Regional Health Service in the last five years, making up a total of 5,000 professionals working in regional health units.