Following the opening of the dental office installed at Calheta Health Centre on São Jorge, all regional Health Centres are equipped with a dental office, which was one of the goals set by the Government for this legislative period.

The Regional Secretary for Health, who presided over the opening of the dental office at that health unit, conveyed his satisfaction with the fulfilment of the Government's commitment to "provide all regional Health Centre with a dental office."

"Our goal to provide all health centres in the Azores was met today, which is extremely important for patients and for the Regional Secretariat for Health as well. This is what distinguishes the Autonomous Region of the Azores in public health policies from the rest of the country," said Luís Cabral.

The Regional Secretary also stressed that this is just an example of what the Regional Government has developed to promote proximity.

"We intend to improve the accessibility of patients, especially those living in remote areas. The accomplishment of this goal, in partnership with Island Health Units, will contribute to the expansion of services in a more comprehensive way, being in line with the principle of proximity in primary health care.

In this regard, the government official stressed that the Government aims to "install a dental office in all municipalities of the archipelago," considering that the municipality of Lajes das Flores still lacks one.

"By the end of the legislative period, we will also provide the municipality of Lajes on Flores Island with a dental office so that all Azorean municipalities will have a dental office through the Regional Health Service," said Luís Cabral.