The health condition of former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi has continue to improve, according to a statement released by his attending physicians on Thursday.

In the last 72 hours, there had been a “further steady improvement in the respiratory and kidney function’’ of the 86-year-old former head of government. The statement from Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital said he remains in intensive care.”

Berlusconi had been treated for pneumonia and chronic leukemia at the hospital for about a week.

Earlier on Monday, in an official statement, doctors spoke of a “gradual and steady’’ improvement in the state of Berlusconi’s health.

The therapies he is receiving showed the expected results, so that one could be “cautiously optimistic,’’ his doctors said.

The right-wing populist politician, who had presided over a total of four governments with interruptions from 1994 to 2011, was admitted to the Milan clinic about a week ago, At first, he was thought to be suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory problems.