Order of Physicians concerned about waiting lists in the Azores

The head of the Order of Physicians, Carlos Cortes, warned that surgical waiting lists at the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo (HDES) in Ponta Delgada have reached 13,945 patients as of July 2026, the highest figure since records began in 2017. He emphasized that the hospital is struggling with structural limitations and the lasting impact of a 2024 fire, which continue to hinder the full restoration of clinical services.


