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Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Mónica Seidi says goal in Health is to put “every Azorean at the heart of decisions and care”
Mónica Seidi says goal in Health is to put “every Azorean at the heart of decisions and care”
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
HSEIT with new equipment totalling three million Euros in 2026
HSEIT with new equipment totalling three million Euros in 2026
November 25, 2025
Mónica Seidi says goal in Health is to put “every Azorean at the heart of decisions and care”
November 25, 2025
Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
November 21, 2025
HSEIT with new equipment totalling three million Euros in 2026
News
Azores Oncology Centre
Regional Directorate for Health
Regional Directorate for Social Solidarity
Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies
Regional Health Inspectorate
Institute for Social Security of the Azores
Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion
Nota de Imprensa
November 25, 2025
Mónica Seidi says goal in Health is to put “every Azorean at the heart of decisions and care”
The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, stated today that the Azorean Government's commitment to health in 2026 is to promote an "accessible, faster and humane system that integrates technology and places each Azorean at the heart of decisions and care." "This is the path chosen, combining the opportunities provided by the RRP, which will enable the Regional Health Service (SRS) to modernise, differentiate and become competitive and attractive for retaining health professionals," she stated. Mónica Seidi spoke at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in Horta, on the second day of debate on the proposals for next year's Plan and Budget. In addition, CT scanners will be purchased for the Horta Hospital and the São Jorge Island Health Unit, and X-ray machines on the islands of Corvo, Flores, São Jorge, Pico, and São Miguel will be replaced. “With the RRP, the political choice of this Government was to replace all the obsolete equipment left behind by more than two decades of socialist governance. Against facts, there are no arguments! And that is not, nor can it be perceived as irrelevant," she added. Mónica Seidi also stated that the Investment Plan for 2026 includes four different programmes to reduce waiting lists for surgical and non-surgical specialities. Regarding surgery in general, the Regional Health Service, in October 2025, "increased the average number of patients undergoing surgery since May 2024 by 11%." She continued: "Between May and December 2024, the increase in the number of patients registered with the HDES stood at 2.4%. In 2025, between January and October, we reduced this increase by half, to 1.2%. Thanks to the commitment of our healthcare professionals, we are recovering! However, we want to respond more quickly to those who are waiting, hence the significant increase in funding for the Health Voucher and Cirurge." As for the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo (HDES), which was destroyed by fire in 2024, its future "is being decided, following the legal procedures required by the Central Administration of the Health System." "The analysis committee meets weekly, as it is a technically complex and time-consuming process. A clear preference has already been identified for one of the functional programmes, which generally provides for the refurbishment of the current building, the expansion of the Emergency Department/Intensive Care Unit, the outpatient area and new areas for logistics. But the new HDES will not just be concrete. It is also necessary to differentiate the response to our users. Evidence of this is the possibility of acquiring a PET scanner, aimed mainly at cancer patients, which is expected to save more than €500,000 per year by avoiding travel outside the Region," stated Mónica Seidi. Furthermore, she continued, recent investment in HDES "is already yielding results." This is demonstrated by the fact that, in 2026, a position was created for the first time for the medical speciality of emergency medicine, which operates at the Modular Hospital. "There was even a recent visit by the College of Intensive Care Medicine to the service that also operates at the Modular Hospital, which highlighted the organisational, care and material developments, awarding it two specialist vacancies for 2026." "We know exactly where we are and where we want to go. In health, this Government will deliver a new and modern HDES as part of its legacy," she continued. In the area of addictive behaviours, regional policies are aligned with national, European and other international strategies. The Azores Task Force, "which some have criticised," has played a decisive role. She explained: "As a result of this work and thanks to the efforts of various stakeholders at a regional level, we have managed to ensure that next year it will be possible to criminalise the NEP substance, with prison sentences for offenders." “By 2026, we also want to strengthen the capacity of partners in the sector who work directly in the area of prevention and treatment. The Regional Government has already agreed with the Health Centres on the daily rates for addictive behaviours and mental health for the next four years. For 2026, the daily rate will increase by 10% for mental health and 11% for addictive behaviours, after several years of being frozen by the socialist government," stressed the Regional Secretary. As for Private Social Solidarity Institutions IPSS), and given the "delicate situation they are currently facing," due to delays in payments from the National Government, "every effort will continue to be made to ensure that the IGF transfers the outstanding amount from the cooperation agreement to ISSA." "Next year, we will increase capacity in several areas: support for senior citizens, people with special needs, and children, with more than 240 new places on the islands of Graciosa, São Miguel, Flores, and Pico. There are nine projects. Over 240 vacancies. And over 1.6 million Euros in funding for our institutions." Regarding the New Elderly programme, implemented by the XIII Government of the Azores and continued by the current administration, it has already covered 519 elderly Azoreans, and its success is "unquestionable." She concluded: "We have brought forward the target date to September 2025, and we will be able to extend it to 2026 with funding from the RRP." Related press release: Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
November 25, 2025
Mónica Seidi says goal in Health is to put “every Azorean at the heart of decisions and care”
The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, stated today that the Azorean Government's commitment to health in 2026 is to promote an "accessible, faster and humane system that integrates technology and places each Azorean at the heart of decisions and care." "This is the path chosen, combining the opportunities provided by the RRP, which will enable the Regional Health Service (SRS) to modernise, differentiate and become competitive and attractive for retaining health professionals," she stated. Mónica Seidi spoke at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in Horta, on the second day of debate on the proposals for next year's Plan and Budget. In addition, CT scanners will be purchased for the Horta Hospital and the São Jorge Island Health Unit, and X-ray machines on the islands of Corvo, Flores, São Jorge, Pico, and São Miguel will be replaced. “With the RRP, the political choice of this Government was to replace all the obsolete equipment left behind by more than two decades of socialist governance. Against facts, there are no arguments! And that is not, nor can it be perceived as irrelevant," she added. Mónica Seidi also stated that the Investment Plan for 2026 includes four different programmes to reduce waiting lists for surgical and non-surgical specialities. Regarding surgery in general, the Regional Health Service, in October 2025, "increased the average number of patients undergoing surgery since May 2024 by 11%." She continued: "Between May and December 2024, the increase in the number of patients registered with the HDES stood at 2.4%. In 2025, between January and October, we reduced this increase by half, to 1.2%. Thanks to the commitment of our healthcare professionals, we are recovering! However, we want to respond more quickly to those who are waiting, hence the significant increase in funding for the Health Voucher and Cirurge." As for the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo (HDES), which was destroyed by fire in 2024, its future "is being decided, following the legal procedures required by the Central Administration of the Health System." "The analysis committee meets weekly, as it is a technically complex and time-consuming process. A clear preference has already been identified for one of the functional programmes, which generally provides for the refurbishment of the current building, the expansion of the Emergency Department/Intensive Care Unit, the outpatient area and new areas for logistics. But the new HDES will not just be concrete. It is also necessary to differentiate the response to our users. Evidence of this is the possibility of acquiring a PET scanner, aimed mainly at cancer patients, which is expected to save more than €500,000 per year by avoiding travel outside the Region," stated Mónica Seidi. Furthermore, she continued, recent investment in HDES "is already yielding results." This is demonstrated by the fact that, in 2026, a position was created for the first time for the medical speciality of emergency medicine, which operates at the Modular Hospital. "There was even a recent visit by the College of Intensive Care Medicine to the service that also operates at the Modular Hospital, which highlighted the organisational, care and material developments, awarding it two specialist vacancies for 2026." "We know exactly where we are and where we want to go. In health, this Government will deliver a new and modern HDES as part of its legacy," she continued. In the area of addictive behaviours, regional policies are aligned with national, European and other international strategies. The Azores Task Force, "which some have criticised," has played a decisive role. She explained: "As a result of this work and thanks to the efforts of various stakeholders at a regional level, we have managed to ensure that next year it will be possible to criminalise the NEP substance, with prison sentences for offenders." “By 2026, we also want to strengthen the capacity of partners in the sector who work directly in the area of prevention and treatment. The Regional Government has already agreed with the Health Centres on the daily rates for addictive behaviours and mental health for the next four years. For 2026, the daily rate will increase by 10% for mental health and 11% for addictive behaviours, after several years of being frozen by the socialist government," stressed the Regional Secretary. As for Private Social Solidarity Institutions IPSS), and given the "delicate situation they are currently facing," due to delays in payments from the National Government, "every effort will continue to be made to ensure that the IGF transfers the outstanding amount from the cooperation agreement to ISSA." "Next year, we will increase capacity in several areas: support for senior citizens, people with special needs, and children, with more than 240 new places on the islands of Graciosa, São Miguel, Flores, and Pico. There are nine projects. Over 240 vacancies. And over 1.6 million Euros in funding for our institutions." Regarding the New Elderly programme, implemented by the XIII Government of the Azores and continued by the current administration, it has already covered 519 elderly Azoreans, and its success is "unquestionable." She concluded: "We have brought forward the target date to September 2025, and we will be able to extend it to 2026 with funding from the RRP." Related press release: Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
Intervenção
November 25, 2025
Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
Full text of the speech delivered today by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, in Horta, during the discussion of the Plan and Budget for 2026: "The Azorean Government's commitment to health in 2026 is to create a more accessible, faster and humane system that integrates technology and places each Azorean at the heart of decisions and care. This is the path chosen, combining the opportunities provided by the RRP, which will enable the Regional Health Service (SRS) to modernise, differentiate and become competitive and attractive for retaining health professionals. This will be a unique opportunity for our institutions, so that they can, for example: - Renew their vehicle fleet by acquiring 71 vehicles; - Purchase surgical robots, for which tenders will be launched by the end of this year; - Enable the Horta Hospital and the São Jorge Island Health Unit to purchase CT scanners; - Replace the X-ray machines on the islands of Corvo, Flores, São Jorge, Pico and São Miguel; - Purchase two mobile units for breast cancer screening; With the RRP, the political choice of this Government was to replace all the obsolete equipment left behind by more than two decades of socialist governance. Against facts, there are no arguments! And that is not, nor can it be perceived as irrelevant. The Government of the Azores is attentive to the problems of the Azoreans and refuses to accept them with resignation without presenting solutions. For this purpose, we have brought forward the launch of the suicide prevention helpline in the Region, which is now available to help those who need it most. As in other systems, access to health care is often hampered by increased demand for care. In the Azores, we have identified the bottlenecks and want to mitigate them. Based on this premise, the investment plan for 2026 includes four different programmes to reduce waiting lists for surgical and non-surgical specialities. - At the Divino Espirito Santo Hospital, the colonoscopy recovery programme provides for a further 72 examinations, in addition to those scheduled until the end of 2025. - In terms of tests, a further 3,350 tests were carried out under this activity system in the first nine months. In 2026, we want to consolidate this programme and extend it to other specialities. Regarding surgeries, the recovery of SRS activity is notable. Overall, in October 2025, the SRS increased the average number of patients undergoing surgery since May 2024 by 11%. Between May and December 2024, the increase in the number of patients registered with the HDES stood at 2.4%. In 2025, between January and October, we reduced this increase by half, to 1.2%. Thanks to the commitment of our healthcare professionals, we are recovering! However, we want to respond more quickly to those who are waiting, hence the significant increase in funding for the Health Voucher and Cirurge. The future of HDES is being defined, following the legal procedures required by the Central Administration of the Health System. The analysis committee meets weekly, as it is a technically complex and time-consuming process. A clear preference has already been identified for one of the functional programmes, which generally provides for the refurbishment of the current building, the expansion of the Emergency Department/Intensive Care Unit, the outpatient area and new areas for logistics. But the new HDES will not just be concrete. It is also necessary to differentiate the response to our users. Evidence of this is the possibility of acquiring a PET scanner, aimed mainly at cancer patients, which is expected to save more than €500,000 per year by avoiding travel outside the Region. Furthermore, recent investment in HDES is already yielding results. This is demonstrated by the fact that, in 2026, a position was created for the first time for the medical speciality of emergency medicine, which operates at the Modular Hospital. There was even a recent visit by the College of Intensive Care Medicine to the service that also operates at the Modular Hospital, which highlighted the organisational, care and material developments, awarding it two specialist vacancies for 2026. We know exactly where we are and where we want to go. In health, this Government will deliver a new and modern HDES as part of its legacy. In 2026, we will maintain our focus: people are always at the heart of government action, especially the most vulnerable. In the area of addictive behaviours, regional policies are aligned with national, European and other international strategies. The Azores Task Force, which some have criticised, has played a decisive role. As a result of this work and thanks to the efforts of various stakeholders at a regional level, we have managed to ensure that next year it will be possible to criminalise the NEP substance, with prison sentences for offenders. By 2026, we also want to strengthen the capacity of partners in the sector who work directly in the area of prevention and treatment. The Regional Government has already agreed with the Health Centres on the daily rates for addictive behaviours and mental health for the next four years. For 2026, the daily rate will increase by 10% for mental health and 11% for addictive behaviours, after several years of being frozen by the socialist government. A word of solidarity for the Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, given the delicate situation they are currently facing. It is not fair that the National Government insists on not understanding our situation as an archipelago. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that the IGF transfers the outstanding amount from the cooperation agreement to ISSA, as we do not accept that the rules of the game should be changed halfway through. RRP investments are also extremely important for the social sector, enabling us to provide our IPSS with better conditions. Next year, we will increase capacity in several areas: support for senior citizens, people with special needs, and children, with more than 240 new places on the islands of Graciosa, São Miguel, Flores, and Pico. There are nine projects. Over 240 vacancies. And over 1.6 million Euros in funding for our institutions. As for the New Elderly programme, which has already reached 519 seniors in the Azores, its success is undeniable! So much so that we have brought forward the target date to September 2025, and we will be able to extend it to 2026 with funding from the RRP. Azorean seniors and their families acknowledge the work of this Government."
November 25, 2025
Speech by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security
Full text of the speech delivered today by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, in Horta, during the discussion of the Plan and Budget for 2026: "The Azorean Government's commitment to health in 2026 is to create a more accessible, faster and humane system that integrates technology and places each Azorean at the heart of decisions and care. This is the path chosen, combining the opportunities provided by the RRP, which will enable the Regional Health Service (SRS) to modernise, differentiate and become competitive and attractive for retaining health professionals. This will be a unique opportunity for our institutions, so that they can, for example: - Renew their vehicle fleet by acquiring 71 vehicles; - Purchase surgical robots, for which tenders will be launched by the end of this year; - Enable the Horta Hospital and the São Jorge Island Health Unit to purchase CT scanners; - Replace the X-ray machines on the islands of Corvo, Flores, São Jorge, Pico and São Miguel; - Purchase two mobile units for breast cancer screening; With the RRP, the political choice of this Government was to replace all the obsolete equipment left behind by more than two decades of socialist governance. Against facts, there are no arguments! And that is not, nor can it be perceived as irrelevant. The Government of the Azores is attentive to the problems of the Azoreans and refuses to accept them with resignation without presenting solutions. For this purpose, we have brought forward the launch of the suicide prevention helpline in the Region, which is now available to help those who need it most. As in other systems, access to health care is often hampered by increased demand for care. In the Azores, we have identified the bottlenecks and want to mitigate them. Based on this premise, the investment plan for 2026 includes four different programmes to reduce waiting lists for surgical and non-surgical specialities. - At the Divino Espirito Santo Hospital, the colonoscopy recovery programme provides for a further 72 examinations, in addition to those scheduled until the end of 2025. - In terms of tests, a further 3,350 tests were carried out under this activity system in the first nine months. In 2026, we want to consolidate this programme and extend it to other specialities. Regarding surgeries, the recovery of SRS activity is notable. Overall, in October 2025, the SRS increased the average number of patients undergoing surgery since May 2024 by 11%. Between May and December 2024, the increase in the number of patients registered with the HDES stood at 2.4%. In 2025, between January and October, we reduced this increase by half, to 1.2%. Thanks to the commitment of our healthcare professionals, we are recovering! However, we want to respond more quickly to those who are waiting, hence the significant increase in funding for the Health Voucher and Cirurge. The future of HDES is being defined, following the legal procedures required by the Central Administration of the Health System. The analysis committee meets weekly, as it is a technically complex and time-consuming process. A clear preference has already been identified for one of the functional programmes, which generally provides for the refurbishment of the current building, the expansion of the Emergency Department/Intensive Care Unit, the outpatient area and new areas for logistics. But the new HDES will not just be concrete. It is also necessary to differentiate the response to our users. Evidence of this is the possibility of acquiring a PET scanner, aimed mainly at cancer patients, which is expected to save more than €500,000 per year by avoiding travel outside the Region. Furthermore, recent investment in HDES is already yielding results. This is demonstrated by the fact that, in 2026, a position was created for the first time for the medical speciality of emergency medicine, which operates at the Modular Hospital. There was even a recent visit by the College of Intensive Care Medicine to the service that also operates at the Modular Hospital, which highlighted the organisational, care and material developments, awarding it two specialist vacancies for 2026. We know exactly where we are and where we want to go. In health, this Government will deliver a new and modern HDES as part of its legacy. In 2026, we will maintain our focus: people are always at the heart of government action, especially the most vulnerable. In the area of addictive behaviours, regional policies are aligned with national, European and other international strategies. The Azores Task Force, which some have criticised, has played a decisive role. As a result of this work and thanks to the efforts of various stakeholders at a regional level, we have managed to ensure that next year it will be possible to criminalise the NEP substance, with prison sentences for offenders. By 2026, we also want to strengthen the capacity of partners in the sector who work directly in the area of prevention and treatment. The Regional Government has already agreed with the Health Centres on the daily rates for addictive behaviours and mental health for the next four years. For 2026, the daily rate will increase by 10% for mental health and 11% for addictive behaviours, after several years of being frozen by the socialist government. A word of solidarity for the Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, given the delicate situation they are currently facing. It is not fair that the National Government insists on not understanding our situation as an archipelago. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that the IGF transfers the outstanding amount from the cooperation agreement to ISSA, as we do not accept that the rules of the game should be changed halfway through. RRP investments are also extremely important for the social sector, enabling us to provide our IPSS with better conditions. Next year, we will increase capacity in several areas: support for senior citizens, people with special needs, and children, with more than 240 new places on the islands of Graciosa, São Miguel, Flores, and Pico. There are nine projects. Over 240 vacancies. And over 1.6 million Euros in funding for our institutions. As for the New Elderly programme, which has already reached 519 seniors in the Azores, its success is undeniable! So much so that we have brought forward the target date to September 2025, and we will be able to extend it to 2026 with funding from the RRP. Azorean seniors and their families acknowledge the work of this Government."