"Support for displaced patients is Regional Government's commitment," says Mónica Seidi - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, highlighted the improved response provided by the Support Service for Displaced Patient Support Service (SADD), emphasising that it is an essential tool for ensuring ongoing support for Azoreans who, for medical reasons, need to travel outside the Region.

“When an Azorean is forced to leave their island to receive treatment, the Azorean Government has a duty to ensure that person does not face this situation alone. The SADD embodies this commitment by providing administrative, logistical, financial and, above all, human support,” stated the Regional Secretary.

During the first half of 2026, SADD handled 478 cases, including 410 new requests. These figures reflect the ongoing support provided to service users and those accompanying them throughout the various stages of treatment.

The Service offers comprehensive support throughout the entire travel process. This includes explaining rights and obligations, providing psychosocial support, processing daily allowances, and managing the Special Supplement for Cancer Patients (CEDO). Additionally, the Service organises transport, provides technical support, and refers patients to appropriate accommodation solutions.

The Regional Government has expanded the network of approved accommodation, increasing available capacity and creating an apartment adapted for patients with special needs.

In the first six months of 2026, a total of 845 stays were recorded. This figure corresponds to about 74% of the total recorded for 2025, highlighting the importance of the support provided. The average occupancy rate for designated accommodation reached 80.21%.

Mónica Seidi believes that these results “confirm that the investment made by the Azorean Government is yielding tangible results, ensuring a more robust, more personalised and more humane response.”

In this context, the recruitment process is currently underway to hire another psychologist to join the SADD team, thereby further reinforcing the capacity to provide psychosocial support to service users and those accompanying them.

The Regional Secretary also took the opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the SADD team, highlighting the crucial role of its staff in providing an increasingly efficient response tailored to users’ needs.