Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security clarifies temporary disruptions to Azores Health Line - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

Following the temporary technical difficulties experienced by the Azores Health Line on May 10, 2026, the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security wishes to provide the following clarification to the public and the media.

On May 10, a technical infrastructure failure occurred in the building where the Azores Health Line operates, which temporarily affected the communications systems.

It is important to clarify that this incident did not result from any operational failure attributable to the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security or the Regional Health Service.

The building where the Azores Health Line operates does not fall within the remit of the Regional Government’s health department. Its management is the responsibility of a private entity under a service provision contract.

Once the problem was identified, the entity responsible and the technical partners involved, including the communications department, were contacted immediately to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

At the same time, arrangements were made with the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) to bolster the medical emergency line's capacity as a precautionary measure, in anticipation of calls being diverted to 112.

In this regard, the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security wishes to clarify that:

• There was no collapse of the Azores Health Line;
• There was no total service disruption;
• Access to healthcare has not been compromised at any time;
• The Azores Health Line is a non-urgent clinical advice and guidance service, not a medical emergency line;
• In emergencies, citizens should contact 112 directly;
• During the period when the service was restricted, no calls to 112 were recorded regarding situations associated with the Azores Health Line;
• The situation was fully resolved by 4 p.m. on May 10.

The Azores Health Line prioritises responsible, coordinated and accurate communication with all partner organisations involved. The priority is to ensure that all information provided to the public is clear, credible and conducive to reassurance and confidence.