The Platform for 100% Public and Quality Health has collected 5,885 signatures demanding a plan to improve the Torrevieja health department’s infrastructure. On Tuesday, the platform’s members met at the Torrevieja hospital to deliver a letter addressed to Health Minister Marciano Gómez, requesting that Torrevieja’s healthcare spending be brought in line with the Valencian Community’s average per capita expenditure in the next budget.
According to the platform’s data, the 2023 budget for the health department was 218,988,509 euros. Divided among 207,162 SIP cards, this equates to 1,057 euros per capita. However, considering the seasonal population, which isn’t included in budget calculations, the per capita expenditure drops to 911 euros. Compared to the regional average of 1,852 euros, this represents an underfunding of 795 euros per resident, or 941 euros when accounting for the seasonal population.
The platform argues that the department’s budget should be at least 444.5 million euros, nearly double the current budget, to meet the population’s actual needs. They also highlight a “historic debt” due to a lack of public investment during 15 years of private management in the health area. The platform emphasizes that the budget increase should be directed toward infrastructure investments and necessary personnel.
The platform also calls for the creation of a budget item to begin constructing a second hospital in the Torrevieja area. Designed for a population of 97,007 in 2000, the health department now serves 207,109 people in 2023, with an additional seasonal influx of 400,000, creating a monthly average of 243,333 inhabitants. This population growth, driven by the real estate sector and urban expansion, justifies the need for a new hospital.
Finally, the platform has requested a meeting with the councillor to discuss these demands and the current situation from the users’ perspective in-depth.
