The hospital network has 3 hospitals, which provide diverse kinds of health care
to users who directly resort to their services or who are referred by other entities
providing health care at a district level. The regional health care system is
further augmented by the Azores Oncology Centre, which strives to ensure
primary prevention, tests and early diagnoses of oncological diseases,
epidemiological vigilance activities and oncological records.
The health services are distributed over the diverse islands and have different
characteristics in terms of size and facilities offered. Preventive medicine and/or
primary health care, such as prophylaxis and consultations, are more
generalised and territorially dispersed. Facilities for curative medicine and
procedures requiring more intense care, such as when patients need to be
admitted to hospital, occur more frequently on islands which have more
specialised health care units.
In terms of factors affecting the sector, the progressive aging of the population
will have a significant impact, considering the corresponding pressure on health
care facilities. The technical and technological evolution of increasingly
sophisticated and more effective tools and means of support will also play an
important role. Both these factors will necessitate additional funds to ensure that
these resources and facilities are operational.