Following visits to all three health centers, the Azorean Nurses’ Association calls for immediate security improvements, additional nursing staff, and urgent investment in healthcare infrastructure.
Nurses working at health centers on the Azorean island of Pico face growing concerns over workplace safety, staffing shortages, and deteriorating facilities, according to the regional leadership of the Portuguese Nurses’ Association. Following a series of meetings with healthcare professionals at the island’s three health centers, the association identified security risks during methadone distribution, insufficient nursing personnel, and inadequate infrastructure in Lajes do Pico as priorities requiring action from regional health authorities.
Pedro Soares, president of the Azorean Regional Board of the Portuguese Nurses’ Association (Ordem dos Enfermeiros), described the visits as extremely productive, emphasizing the importance of hearing directly from frontline professionals about the conditions affecting their work and the quality of healthcare provided to the population.
Among the most pressing concerns was the safety of nurses responsible for administering methadone, particularly during weekends, when fewer healthcare professionals are on duty and security personnel are not available to accompany the process.
“There is an urgent need to improve security at health centers,” Soares stated. “During weekend methadone distribution, there are no security professionals present. In other words, the nurse is practically alone throughout the process.”
The situation has created feelings of vulnerability among nursing staff, who believe that additional safeguards are necessary to ensure their safety while providing essential treatment services.
Soares pledged to bring the matter to the attention of regional health authorities as quickly as possible, stressing that healthcare professionals on Pico should enjoy the same working conditions and protections as their colleagues elsewhere in the archipelago.
“Nurses on Pico cannot have fewer protections or inferior conditions compared with professionals on other islands,” he emphasized.
Staffing shortages emerged as another major concern during the meetings. According to Soares, all three health centers require additional nursing personnel to meet the needs of their communities and maintain appropriate standards of care.
The association is working with regional authorities to facilitate recruitment procedures and develop incentives that encourage healthcare professionals to remain on Pico. The objective is both to retain existing nurses and attract additional personnel to an island where geographical isolation can complicate recruitment and long-term staffing.
“It is essential to strengthen the nursing teams at all three health centers,” Soares explained. “We are working with the authorities to make recruitment possible and establish incentives that will allow us to retain those already here and attract new professionals.”
The association has not yet established the precise number of additional nurses required. A staffing assessment is underway, comparing the number of professionals currently employed with the services provided and the healthcare needs of the population. Soares said concrete recruitment targets would be determined once that evaluation is completed.
The physical condition of healthcare facilities was also examined during the visits, with particular attention given to the health centers in São Roque and Lajes do Pico.
In São Roque, Soares noted that renovation work has been included in the Azorean Regional Government’s proposed Plan and Budget for 2027. He welcomed the recognition of the facility’s needs but emphasized that the proposed investment must now be translated into actual improvements.
The situation in Lajes do Pico was described as more urgent. According to the association, the existing health center does not provide the conditions considered necessary for the consistent delivery of quality healthcare, making the construction of a replacement facility a priority.
Soares pointed out that plans for a new health center are already being developed and that the land required for construction has been acquired. He urged the Regional Government to advance the project without unnecessary delays.
“Intervention is needed as quickly as possible in the municipality of Lajes because the current health center does not offer ideal conditions for quality care,” he stated. “We know that projects are underway and that the land has already been acquired, but we are asking for the process to move forward urgently, following the normal procedures required for this type of investment.”
The association’s concerns highlight the particular challenges of maintaining accessible healthcare services in smaller island communities, where limited staffing and aging infrastructure can place additional pressure on medical professionals and public institutions.
For Pico’s residents, the availability of adequately staffed and equipped health centers is especially important given the geographical realities of island life and the need to ensure timely access to primary healthcare services.
Following the meetings, the Azorean Nurses’ Association intends to submit its findings to the relevant regional authorities, seeking concrete measures to strengthen staffing, improve workplace security, and accelerate infrastructure improvements.
While Soares described the institutional dialogue as constructive, his assessment underscored the urgency of moving from identifying problems to implementing solutions.
The association’s immediate priorities are clear: safer conditions for nurses administering methadone, stronger healthcare teams throughout Pico, the completion of planned improvements in São Roque, and progress toward a new health center in Lajes.
The outcome will depend on the Regional Government’s response and its ability to translate existing plans and commitments into improvements for healthcare professionals and the communities they serve.
Based on reporting from Ilha Maiof newspaper, directed by Manuel Tomás and statements by the Azorean Regional Board of the Portuguese Nurses’ Association, November 2026.