Opinion Piece by Tomás Moreno, former President of Unidos por la Costa
Orihuela Costa’s long-awaited second health centre will not be ready before 2029 at the earliest. That is the uncomfortable conclusion that can be drawn from the latest information surrounding the 2026 draft budget of the Valencian Regional Government.
For residents of the coast, this is not simply another administrative delay. It is another reminder of the chronic lack of public services in an area whose population has grown enormously, while essential infrastructure has failed to keep pace.
On 30 May, Diario Información published details of the Valencian Government’s draft 2026 budget. The information is especially relevant because the investment annex for health centres does not include any allocation for the second health centre planned for Orihuela Costa.
At first glance, that absence could suggest that the project has once again been pushed aside. However, Orihuela Town Council has stated that the reason it does not appear in the regional budget is that the council itself will assume responsibility for carrying out the project.
According to the information published, Orihuela Council says it will invest €10 million in the new health centre, with the money later reimbursed by the Valencian Regional Government. This arrangement was reinforced at the municipal plenary session held on 28 May, when the council formally assumed these responsibilities.
While that may sound like progress, residents should not be misled into thinking that construction is imminent. The administrative and technical road ahead remains long.
Before the second health centre can become a reality, several stages still have to be completed. These include the formal transfer and management of responsibilities, drafting and approval of the project, budget procedures, tendering, contract award, construction and final commissioning. Even with political will and no major obstacles, this process points to an opening date no earlier than 2029.
That means the project will almost certainly extend beyond the current municipal term and will have a major impact on the governing team that emerges after the May 2027 local elections.
This is a crucial point. The future of the second health centre will depend not only on announcements made today, but on whether future administrations maintain the same commitment, secure the necessary funding and avoid further bureaucratic paralysis.
Meanwhile, the existing health centre in Aguamarina will continue to bear the pressure. For years, residents have complained about overcrowding, long waits and services stretched beyond what is reasonable for a coastal area with a large resident population and a significant seasonal increase.
Orihuela Costa is not asking for special treatment. It is asking for basic public services in line with its population, its needs and its contribution to municipal and regional life.
The announcement that the council will advance the money may be an important step, but it must be judged by results, not headlines. Until there is a completed building, medical staff, equipment and an opening date, the second health centre remains a promise.
For now, the message to residents is clear: the wait continues, and the earliest realistic date is 2029.
