First Surgical Training and Simulation Center in the Algarve is born in Loulé

It is in Loulé, on Rua de Betunes, that the first Surgical Training and Simulation Center in the Algarve was born, which will allow training interns at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) and also from other parts of the country. 

This is another investment, within the scope of the Algarve 2020 regional program, in the area of ​​Health, promoted by the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), a partnership between the University of Algarve and the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Algarve (CHUA).

In this space, where the Experimental Surgery Center currently exists, a center of research excellence was also born which, according to the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CDDR), which manages European funds, aims to «potentiate the cooperation of a set of multidisciplinary skills with a high impact on scientific production, providing infrastructures equipped with cutting-edge technology to successfully recruit young doctors and doctors passionate about developing their research ideas with an emphasis on translational and clinical research” in the Bank of serum – seroteca, public umbilical cord cell bank, Biobank, Entomological Research Center, Advanced Research Unit in Computed Tomography and Clinical Genetics Laboratory.

These are projects that involve an investment of 8,87 million euros and will be installed not only on Rua de Betunes, but also in a building that is being built on Loulé cemetery street.

In the words of Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion, what these investments will allow is to have a «ecosystem in the health sector». 

«What we were seeing were simulation centers, and training is essential so that later, when people are treated in a hospital, we can treat them with the latest techniques known worldwide», the minister told journalists on Tuesday , November 21st, on the first of several visits to investment projects that benefit from European funds managed in the region by the Algarve 2020 program.

Ana Abrunhosa also highlighted that projects like these bring to the Algarve «health tourism that can also be used» and young talent.

"Oh Centro ABC is an example, because we have qualified young people here, some who have had international careers, and that returned to the Algarve because today they have highly qualified activities and thatcan develop partnerships with other institutions, which will then also be fundamental to developing these projects». 

"This it requires all actors in the territory to be imbued with the same spirit and work together. The hospital cannot work without being linked to the University, which cannot work without being linked to the CCDR, nor to the municipalities, which, in the case of Loulé, is the major investor, for now, in these projects», he further reinforced. 

For Vítor Aleixo, president of Loulé Chamber, who finances these projects at 15%, this is proof that this Municipality «realizes that the paths of the future involve the opening of new dossiers", particularly in the area of ​​health, and that, together with academia and other players, it seeks to "open new economic clusters in the region, which will be important for the Algarve and for the country».  

Highlighting the «excellent tourism» that already exists in this municipality, Vitor Aleixo emphasizes that «we can have more to develop this territory and these communities».

«Basically, what we want is tocreate a more robust community, with a diversified economy, not so dependent on tourist activity, which is already very good, but, like everything in life, it has its limits».

The mayor of Loulé also made a point of highlighting that today “talking about tourism is talk about an activity that takes place in an environmental context, which has its limits to continue growing, as has happened so far». And, therefore, in the mayor's opinion, “we must now choose other paths” for the region. 

In the first of a series of visits to the Algarve, Ana Abrunhosa took the opportunity to emphasize that she came to make «one last push for Algarve 2020, the regional program, to be fully implemented».

To journalists, the Minister of Territorial Cohesion stated that the execution rate of Algarve 2020 is now at "around 90%", but that there is "urgency that all funds from the funds be used" and that "maximum commitment" be put into this. .

Photos: Mariana Sedge | Sul Informação