Create one public pharmaceutical company, more investment, strengthening primary care, mental health and ending the Muface model. These are some of the proposals that Sumar included in the election program, which Mónica García can implement as the new Minister of Health.
In fact, García wants to develop one of these projects in the Community of Madrid: the creation of a public pharmaceutical company. Specifically, he proposed that the Isabel Zendal pandemic hospital become an industrial hub, FarmaNorte. However, this initiative did not come from the party of Yolanda Díaz, but from Más País.
Finish the Muface model This is one of Yolanda Díaz’s suggestions for the Health area. From Sumar they seek 100% public health: “Inclusion, within the general health coverage, of people who currently receive health care under mutual funds in private health care,” says the party’s election program.
(Eliminating the Muface model would reduce insurers’ income by 1.5 billion and 39,000 jobs would be lost)
Something that Mónica García agrees with: “We need to move towards a 100% public model. This duality does not benefit any of the parties,” he said in an interview with Writing Doctor. It is well known that Díaz wants full public health care and, now, with the ministry in the hands of Sumar, he knows to take steps in this line.
However, None of these two proposals appear in the agreement signed between PSOE and Sumar. Others mentioned above are included, such as expanding the portfolio of services, mental health, reducing waiting lists or strengthening Primary Care.
Expanding the service portfolio
A public health system with a broader portfolio of services. This is what the new Minister of Health is chasing. And he made it clear on several occasions from his position as spokesperson for Más Madrid in the Madrid Assembly. In fact, a few days ago he ‘posted’ on the social network X (formerly Twitter) the following: “Public health is the pride of our country. So it’s not enough to protect it: let’s expand it“.
He also spoke about the areas of health where services should be expanded: dentistry, optics and psychology (in accordance with the agreement signed between PSOE and Sumar on health matters).
(Include free public health ‘dentists’ that would increase spending by more than 5.3 billion)
Recently, the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System approved the distribution of 68 million euros for the autonomous communities to expand the Oral Health Plan. These funds – added to the 44 million transferred last year – are aimed at expanding the groups that will benefit from public services: population from 0 to 5 years of age and patients diagnosed with a type of cervicofacial cancer. And everything seems to indicate that García will continue to increase the endowment for oral care will be ‘free’ for many people.
the HEALTH intelligence This is one of the areas that García will address as head of the Ministry of Health. In his investiture speech, the president, Pedro Sánchez, committed to “promoting a good state agreement for mental health.”
Along these lines, he committed to “increase the number of psychologists and psychiatrists in public centers, to reduce waiting times and to guarantee that in Spain there is no citizen who needs psychological help and does not get this.” For the new Minister of Health, mental health is important. And he clarified the electoral program of the party he led until now in Madrid with him Mental Health Crash Plan.
The purpose of this plan is to increase the ratio of professionals in psychology and psychiatry, as well as reduce mental health waiting lists. In line with what the Executive President announced last week and what Sumar included in the election program.
(Sánchez changes the maximum time law for a CCAA plan to reduce health care waiting lists)
Precisely, Sánchez also announced a plan to reduce healthcare waiting lists. “I know that this competence (health) is in the hands of the autonomous communities, but we cannot sit idly. waiting list,” he said.
And this is another area of concern for the new minister. In fact, during his time in the Madrid Assembly, he recorded a waiting list management bill and guarantees the highest healthcare deadlines in the Community of Madrid. Currently, In Spain there are almost 800,000 patients waiting to be operated on according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Health, corresponding to the end of 2022.
Strengthen Primary Care
she collapse of primary care This is one of the challenges faced by Mónica García. The new minister knows the situation in which this level of care is found, so everything shows that he will dedicate his efforts to improving it.
In fact, the agreement between PSOE and Sumar included continue to strengthen Primary Care with increased staff, more equipment and better infrastructure.
It should be noted that in December 2021 the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) gave the green light to the Primary Care Action Plan 2022-2023. Almost a year ago, the Council of Ministers approved the allocation of 172 million for Primary Care. An investment that the sector considers insufficient.
This year, the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System approved the transfer of 579.1 million to improve the infrastructure of Primary Care. It remains to be seen if there will be more funding for this level of care with García at the head of the Ministry of Health.
Javier Padilla, Secretary of State
Mónica García’s arrival at the Ministry of Health is not the only one. The one who ran as successor to the spokesperson of Más Madrid, Javier Padilla eventually becoming Secretary of State for Health.
The representative and spokesperson has been one of the most loyal to García throughout his career and fully aware of the healthcare sector. Within the union and school circles in Madrid they describe Padilla as a “committed” professional who has “clear ideas” and knows “how” to care for health.
Health professionals give you ‘homework’
The various organizations of health professionals congratulated Mónica García on her appointment, extended their hand to her and encouraged her to ‘work’ as soon as possible.
This is the case of State Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM), who asked to hold a meeting “as soon as possible” with the new minister to address the current problems of doctors who are waiting for a solution. Among them, waiting lists, healthcare in Ceuta and Melilla and changes to the Framework Statute.
For its part, the General Council of Physicians offers its collaboration to García to “rebuild a National Health System in crisis, solving the challenges and problems it is going through.”
The organization considers that among the most relevant issues that should be on the agenda of the new Government in matters of health is the establishment a State Pact in collaboration with the Interterritorial Council or the implementation of the State Public Health Agency.
Las nurses through the Satse union, asked García “to promote the unity and stability of our health system with adequate financing and the achievement of agreements with the autonomous communities that promote the development of Working conditions of nurses and physiotherapists”.
Pharmacists remember that the Ministry of Health is waiting for the development of Rural Community Pharmacy Program whose former protocol has been signed by the ministries of Health, Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and Social Rights and Agenda 2030.
The private sector
the industry pharmaceutical He also congratulated the new minister. This is the case for employers in the sector, Farmindustria. The organization assured that they will continue to work on the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Pharmaceutical Industry, something that former minister José Manuel Miñones promised.
In this regard, the Spanish Association of Generic Medicines (Aeseg) trusts that the new ‘leader’ of health will promote these medicines in Spain. Thus, it requests that the prices of generics considered essential be increased and the minimum profit margins be ensured, among other demands.
The IDIS Foundation joins in the congratulations and extends its hand to García: “It offers the willingness of the private health sector to work together to achieve common goals that ensure a quality, safe and efficient health system “.
