All health users on São Miguel Island to have family doctor from September, announces Regional Secretary for Health
The Regional Secretary for Health announced in Ponta Delgada that “all users on São Miguel Island will have a family doctor from September." In this context, the Regional Government is undertaking “all efforts to ensure that, in a short time, every Azorean citizen will have a family doctor."
Teresa Machado Luciano spoke on the sidelines of the hearing at the Committee on Social Affairs of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Asked by journalists on the Substance Addiction Deterrence commissions, the Regional Secretary stated that “the three existing in the Region are fully functioning and have been conducting training sessions, namely with PSP (Public Security Police) officers. This year, 280 professionals have received training in this specific area."
“There is no reason to create more commissions in Autonomous Region of the Azores, seeing that the number of cases reported on other islands does not justify it," explained the government official.
As regards the payment of a fixed-salary to the workers of these commissions - as it happens in Mainland Portugal and Madeira -, Teresa Machado Luciano admitted that “this aspect might be considered." Nevertheless, she defended that “these professionals work in excellent conditions as they have their own working spaces at the island health units."
Questioned about staff shortage in Ribeira Grande Immediate Life Support (SIV) teams, the Regional Secretary for Health assured that “all night shifts are being ensured with only minor failures." In this regard, she recalled that “the Ribeira Grande Basic Emergency Unit operates from 8 AM to 12 AM, besides the SIV teams and the emergency services operating at the Health Centre."
Teresa Machado Luciano added that her department is working “to recruit more nurses to ensure all shifts."
Regarding the provision of a physiotherapist for health users on Corvo Island, the Regional Secretary for Health stated that the application is currently in the period for the hearing of interested parties. It is expected to run until the end of August and the final results will be announced within ten days after the completion of procedures.