The Azores Government today obtained the purchase of the land for the future Ribeira Grande Health Centre, an investment of more than 20 million euros and a long-standing request from the population.
“The Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat of Health and Social Security, confirmed today, by signing a promissory contract, the purchase of the land on which the new Ribeira Grande Health Center will be built, in São Miguel,” informs the Regional Executive Director (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), in a note sent to the newsrooms.
According to the regional government, the land in question is located in the parish of Conceição. It is “an area of 35,000 square meters for a project that requires a covered occupancy area of 20,000 square meters,” for an “investment of more than 20 million euros.”
“We have already started to fight against policies that focus on hospitals and, as we all know, this has proven to be a huge added value in the healthcare that we can offer to the population, at a time when the Ponta Delgada Hospital is in deficit,” highlights the Regional Secretary of Health and Social Security, Monica Cide, quoted in the statement, referring to the fire that occurred on May 4 in the largest health unit in the archipelago.
Monica Sidi points out that another step has been taken to commit to building “a structure of exceptional value for health in the Azores” in this municipality located on the island of São Miguel.
On November 17, 2023, the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolleiro (PSD), revealed that the municipality of Ribeira Grande will have a new health center, which will increase the response capacity in several areas.
When presenting the project for the city on the northern coast of São Miguel Island, the CEO explained that the unit would be a “new building” and would be close to the volunteer fire department.
“We will significantly increase the capacity of inpatient beds, provide palliative care, and the new center will have a minor surgical operating room. It will be built in a single-storey building, which will also help significantly with maintenance costs and facilitate accessibility for everyone,” José Manuel Bolleiro added at the time.
The mayor of Ribeira Grande told Lusa today that the signing of the programme contract represents a “light at the end of the tunnel” regarding a “long-standing” demand from residents, criticising the “divestment in the current building” over the past few years of socialist rule.
“Taking into account the situation that occurred as a result of the fire at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital, we believe that this new health center can serve as a support bridge for the Ponta Delgada Hospital, since we are in the center of the island,” highlighted Alexandre Gaudencio (PSD).
The mayor of Ribeira Grande also stressed that the site “has excellent accessibility”.
“That is why we ask that this new health centre be considered as a backup health unit for Ponta Delgada Hospital,” he added.
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