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- The Generalitat’s budget includes the expansion of the Aguamarina health centre but does not allocate funds for the construction of a new facility.
The promise of a second health centre in Orihuela Costa was a major announcement recently made by the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, during one of his visits to the city. However, this commitment has not been reflected in the Generalitat’s latest budget, which instead allocates over four million euros for the expansion of the Aguamarina health centre—a project that still faces regulatory hurdles due to land ownership issues.
Five Years of Waiting
Residents of the coast have been waiting five years for an expansion of Aguamarina’s Centro Salud or the construction of a new one. The option of a new centre is the one supported by locals, although the latest budget only includes funding for the expansion. The City Council had already allocated a 12,000-square-meter plot in Los Altos for the construction of a second health centre, but no funds have yet been set aside for this project.
The only health centre currently serving Orihuela Costa caters to 30,000 year-round residents, a number that multiplies by 3 or 4 during peak tourist seasons. The facility, already deteriorated and lacking space, still bears the signage of its former operator from nearly 20 years ago.
Political Controversy
Following a review of the budget, the Unidos por la Costa neighborhood association criticized the decision, stating:
“It seems Mazón has outmaneuvered Vegara—like master and apprentice. This reflects the improvisation, lack of planning, and empty promises constantly made by both the regional and local governments regarding Orihuela Costa.”
Residents are demanding clear answers and are scheduled to meet with Pedro Manuel López Redondo, the Generalitat’s Director of Economic Management, Procurement, and Infrastructure, to discuss the next steps.
Differing Visions: Expansion vs. New Construction
The Valencian regional government has always favoured expanding the existing health centre, while PP and Vox leaders in Orihuela have continued pushing for a new facility.
In November, Mayor Pepe Vegara insisted that the City Council was actively working with the regional health department to build a new centre, arguing that simply expanding the current facility would be insufficient. He claimed negotiations were progressing well.
The land allocated for the new health centre is near another previously designated site in La Ciñuelica, bordering Torrevieja. More than a year ago, the local government rejected a proposed expansion and renovation of the existing health centre, believing a second facility would better meet the area’s growing healthcare needs.
For now, residents remain in limbo, as they continue to wait for a final decision.
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