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Date Published: 30/11/2022

ARCHIVED - A dozen new health centres earmarked for the Region of Murcia

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

There are also plans to expand nine existing clinics in the Region and open a fourth emergency centre in Murcia

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - A dozen new health centres earmarked for the Region of Murcia

The Regional Ministry of Health will reveal the intricacies of its 2023 draft budget at Assembly this afternoon, Wednesday November 30, which includes the construction of 12 new health centres (*see below), the refurbishment and expansion of nine more, and the opening of a new A&E.

The Health budget for 2023 totals 2.3 billion euros, which is 124 million more than last year. Most of it (2.25 billion) goes to the overwhelmed and overstretched Murcia Health Service, 73.5 million goes directly to the Regional Ministry and the remainder to the Foundation for Training and Health Research (FFIS).

In addition to strengthening the primary care network with new infrastructures, the Ministry's budget earmarks funding to increase the health workforce by up to 213 personnel, of which 123 will be family doctors and paediatricians in primary care.

These professionals will also be joined next year by 9 midwives, 30 nurses, 11 physiotherapists, 11 social workers, 11 nursing assistants and 18 administrative assistants. And "over the next four years, we will continue to increase the number of professionals in these categories," assured the health service.

This follows a compromise reached last week by the Health and Regional Government and doctors' and nurses' unions in order to call off scheduled protests.

More than 19 million euros has been allocated for the construction, expansion and equipping of up to 23 facilities: 12 new health centres, the expansion of 9 more, a fourth SUAP for the metropolitan area of Murcia, in the district of Beniaján, and refurbishment works to be carried out at the Regional Ministry's HQ.

A further 1.2 million euros will be pulled from the Programme to Promote the Rehabilitation of Public Buildings (PIREP), co-financed with Next Generation funds, for the rehabilitation of another 12 health centres: Alcantarilla Casco; La Alberca; Yecla Oeste; Fuente Álamo; Cartagena-Los Barreros; San Javier; Murcia-Zarandona; Murcia-El Ranero; San Pedro del Pinatar; Torre Pacheco Oeste; Águilas Norte and Molina Sur.

A large chunk of cash, 1.4 million, from the 2023 budget will also be invested in the installation of photovoltaic solar energy panels at 67 health centres next year, again co-financed with Next Generation funding.

And to further lower energy consumption, almost 4.6 million euros will be spent refurbishing air conditioning at health centres, with the support of Feder Funds.

*New Region health centres:

Cartagena Santa Ana Health Centre

Corvera Health Centre (Murcia)

Lo Pagán Health Centre (San Pedro del Pinatar)

Molina Este Health Centre

Santiago y Zaraiche Health Centre (Murcia)

Abanilla Health Centre

Alhama Health Centre

Cartagena-Barrio Peral Health Centre

Lorca-San Cristobal Health Centre

Lorquí Health Centre

Nonduermas Health Centre

Yecla Health Centre

Also read: Murcia Airport to get new flight connection with Manchester in 2023

Image: Archive

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