“This is the second piece of equipment in the country that allows for the precise assessment of their capabilities [of a patient with motor disabilities] and, in this case, it also allows for a simulation of driving in real life”, the chairman of the board of directors of ULS Algarve told Lusa.

During a visit to the Centro de Medicina e de Reabilitação (CMR) do Sul, in São Brás de Alportel, in the district of Faro, where the simulation centre is located, João Ferreira added that by the end of the year, it should be possible for users to carry out the practical part of their recovery in an adapted vehicle.

The new equipment can be used by users from all over the country, but will primarily benefit those from the Algarve region, who until now had to travel almost 300 kilometres to get to the only place with an identical simulator, the Centro de Medicina de Reabilitação de Alcoitão, in the Lisbon region.

According to João Ferreira, there are already 11 users on the list to use the new vehicle simulator, but others will be attracted by the new equipment from now on.

The simulator is the result of a collaboration agreement between the Algarve University Hospital Centre (CHUA) and the São Brás de Alportel Council, with a total investment of around 100,000 euros, of which 25,000 were covered by the local authority.

“The local authority is naturally providing this support because it is justified by the response it provides not only to our residents, not only to the region, but it is a response we provide to the Portuguese people, to all those who need this service”, stressed the mayor, Vítor Guerreiro, who was present at the visit.

The CMR Sul is a reference unit in the area of ​​intensive rehabilitation and specialized care that aims to promote interdisciplinary rehabilitation in situations that require prolonged and complex interventions.