The Regional Secretary for Health stressed today the importance of creating a Radiotherapy Centre in the Azores, taking into consideration that it will "create the necessary conditions so that those in need of radiotherapy treatment may receive it without being away from their families."

Luís Cabral presided over, on behalf of the President of the Government, the ceremony to launch the first stone of the Azores Radiotherapy Centre. The government official also announced that this facility will be connected to the island of Terceira, through the creation of a centre where the Brachytherapy service will be installed.

"Hence, the Azores Radiotherapy Centre will have a decentralised facility that will operate as a complementary service. This possibility was already safeguarded in the project submitted," said the Regional Secretary.

In his speech, Luís Cabral stressed that the creation of a solution that has long been desired and necessary in the Region and praised the partnership with the private company Joaquim Chaves Saúde in this Project of Regional Interest for taking the commitment to "ensure that the Azorean population will have access to a quality service in the area of Radiotherapy."

"After years of ups and downs, today we are taking another decisive step to reinforce the conditions of the Regional Health Service in the provision of a response to those who need it," underlined the Regional Secretary for Health.

The Azores Radiotherapy Centre will be built on land adjacent to the Ponta Delgada Hospital. The works have a completion period until December 31, 2015.