The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, visited Ceuta today, where he inaugurated the Tarajal Health Center, accompanied by the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, the President of the Autonomous City of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivir, and the Government delegate, Rafael García Rodríguez.
In his installations, the head of the Executive stressed his “commitment” to quality public health and pointed out that “protecting our public health requires, above all, effective budgetary resources and public policies committed to this important pillar of our welfare state.”
Therefore, he appealed to all the administrations with competences in health matters, to the CCAA, “to reinforce Primary Care among all, instead of weakening it”, “because the needs of Primary Care go far beyond the demands of a professional group, they are a real social clamour”.
In this regard, he stressed that his Government has invested 1 billion euros in Primary Care, where it has approved the Plan of Action for Primary and Community Care, which has already mobilized more than 446 million euros and which recognizes the role of the Primary in the entire National Health System. He also stressed that, in relation to the call for 2018, the places for Primary Care Doctors grow by more than 35%, and by more than 160% those offered for Nursing.
Commitment to public health
The President of the Government, who recalled in his speech that the Covid19 pandemic has made us rediscover the importance of our National Health System, a key element of our welfare state, has highlighted the health policy of its Executive, which is committed to modern, dignified and resourceful public health.
“That is my commitment: free, universal and quality public health, because after a decade of neoliberal cuts that reduced health care media and professionals in our National Health System, we are making an unprecedented effort.”
In this regard, it has highlighted the historical increase in investment in Health in the General State Budgets: 239% in 2022 compared to the previous year, consolidated in 2023 with an additional 7.83% increase. In addition, it has pointed out the investment of 1 billion euros in Primary Care; 800 million euros in advanced equipment with the Plan of Investment in High Technology Health Equipment in the SNS (INVEAT); the Digital Health Strategy; or the commitment to the PERTE of Avant-garde Health, with an investment of almost 1.5 billion euros from the Recovery Funds.
In the field of health personnel, since 2018 the number of places offered in Specialized Training has increased by 38.2%, with 20% more MIR places, the largest offer of MIR places in history. And a plan has been approved to reduce the temporality and make more than 67,000 health professionals permanent.
Sánchez has also recalled that one of the first measures of his government was to restore universality and eliminate pharmaceutical copayments for vulnerable groups.
Tarajal Health Center, example of the right to health care
The President of the Government has pointed out that the Tarajal Health Center of Ceuta is a good example of the way of understanding the right to health care as an engine of progress and social cohesion. “The Government will continue to work in the service of Spain, promoting what this center represents: a modern, dignified public health, with resources and present throughout the national territory,” he said.
The Tarajal Health Center, with 40 professionals serving 21,000 users, has had an investment of 5.6 million euros for its reform and expansion and another 560,000 euros for investment in furniture and equipment, within the framework of the Integral Plan of Socioeconomic Development of the City of Ceuta, endowed with about 335 million euros.