Press release - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

Following statements made by MP António Lima regarding the haemodialysis service at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital (HDES), the Regional Health Authority would like to clarify the following:

No application for the licensing of private healthcare facilities in the area of haemodialysis/dialysis has been submitted to the Regional Health Authority. The said company only holds licences for the wholesale distribution of medicines, veterinary medicines and medical devices.

It should be noted that the Regional Directorate for Health, and not municipalities, is responsible for licensing any application for healthcare activities, whether public or private, by technicians from the Regional Directorate for Health.

Regarding the haemodialysis service, as is public knowledge, the functional programme of the new HDES is currently under analysis. The Analysis Committee will evaluate the future operation of that service.

It should be noted that, to date, no decision has been made in this regard and that it will be the responsibility of the Regional Government of the Azores.

It is reiterated that any decision that may be taken regarding the haemodialysis service will have as its sole purpose the well-being of the users of the Regional Health Service and will not be based on ideological preconceptions.