Mayors of Marina Alta towns learn more about public management of health in the region
The Department of Health serves 33 municipalities of the Marina Alta region, with a population of around 199,300 inhabitants.
Friday 10th February 2023
Mike Smith
The Minister for Universal Health and Public Health, Miguel Mínguez, and the regional secretary for Health Efficiency and Technology, Concha Andrés, held a meeting with mayors of the 33 municipalities of the Marina Alta to address the return to public management of health care in the region.
During the meeting, Mínguez explained that the concession contract for health care and the Dénia Health Department by Marina Salud S.A. ends on January 31st 2024 and that the Ministry of Health has already notified the company of its intention not to extend it. Therefore, from that date, the regional government will recover the direct management of the public health service in the Marina Alta.
Likewise, the company has also been sent a document with the reversal rules in which the information of the department is requested as well as the constitution of working groups “so that the process is carried out with the maximum transparency and normality to guarantee health care to the citizens [of the Marina Alta]”, according to the minister.
The department comprises the 33 municipalities of the Marina Alta region: Alcalalí, l’Atzúbia, Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Benigembla, Benimeli, Benissa, Calp, Castell de Castells, Dénia, Gata de Gorgos, Llíber, Murla, Ondara, Orba, Parcent, Pedreguer, Pego, Poble Nou de Benitatxell, Els Poblets, el Ràfol d’Almúnia, Sagra, Sanet y Negrals, Senija, Teulada, Tormos, the Vall d’Alcalà, the Vall d’Ebo, the Vall de Gallinera, the Vall de Laguar, el Verger, Xàbia and Xaló, with a total population of around 199,300 inhabitants.
“By resuming the direct management of the service in the Marina Alta, as we have already done with Alzira and Torrevieja after 15 years in private hands, public health is strengthened, which cannot be subject to business criteria”, the minister explained to the mayors and mayors.
In addition, the head of regional health added that the process is being carried out “through dialogue and with the maximum legal guarantees” and has conveyed a message of tranquility to the professionals who provide services in the department.
In this sense, the working group created with professionals from different general directorates of the Ministry of Health to lead the transition “has been collecting all the necessary documentation and information since its constitution last summer,.”
