The measure was approved by the Government Council, which met on Friday (31 July) in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel. According to the Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), this represents “another step in the strategy to modernise Azorean public hospitals by focusing on technological innovation” to ensure healthcare services that are “more specialised, safer, and closer to the population.”

A robotic surgery system and a compatible operating table, valued at 2.5 million euros, will be acquired for the Santo Espírito Hospital on Terceira Island; this will enhance surgical capacity across various specialities.

“The technology enables minimally invasive surgeries, reducing surgical trauma, the risk of complications, and hospital stays, while accelerating patient recovery,” the Azorean executive explained in a statement.

The second unit, to be installed at the Horta Hospital on Faial Island, is dedicated to Orthopaedics. This 1.25-million-euro investment will strengthen “the technical capabilities of that hospital unit and increase its response capacity in this area.”

Quoted in the released statement, the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, emphasised that this investment reflects “a clear commitment to an increasingly modern and innovative public health system,” placing “technology at the service of people and the quality of care provided.”

The head of the regional government further notes that the goal is to “guarantee Azoreans access to the most advanced technologies without the need to leave the region” and to strengthen hospital capacity, thereby improving conditions for treatment and recovery.

Technological modernisation, he adds, is a key factor in valuing healthcare professionals, as it helps attract and retain highly specialised teams.

The Regional Government explains that both investments fall under Specific Objective 4.5 of the Azores 2030 Program, which aims to ensure “equal access to healthcare, strengthen the resilience of the regional health system, and promote the modernisation of hospital infrastructure through the acquisition of more technologically advanced and clinically effective equipment.”

The Azorean Government Council also approved a contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Atlânticoline (the public company responsible for maritime transport of passengers, vehicles, and cargo across the archipelago) to ensure the operation, logistical support, and maintenance management of the research vessel Azores Ocean.

Under this agreement, the region will transfer €250,000 in 2026 and €1.75 million in 2027, ensuring the continued operation of this scientific facility.

In the housing sector, a resolution was approved authorising an international public tender for the construction of 24 homes in the Candeias subdivision, located in the parish of Fenais da Luz, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel Island.

The project has a base price of €5.1 million and a completion timeframe of 720 days.

The regional government also approved the launch of a public tender for the renovation and roof replacement of the livestock holding facility at the São Miguel Slaughterhouse. The project, with an estimated base price of 650,000 euros plus Value Added Tax (VAT), is expected to be completed within five months.