Healthcare to Strengthen 35 Health Centres and Open 6 Auxiliary Centres During Summer in Alicante's Coastal Towns

The population surge in Alicante during the summer due to tourism necessitates the Generalitat to bolster healthcare services. The Ministry of Health will invest up to €82.5 million this summer in the Valencian Community, resulting in the strengthening and opening of health centres and auxiliary facilities.

In Alicante province alone, 35 health centres will be reinforced and 6 will be opened throughout the summer period in coastal towns. Across the Valencian Community, there will be 74 of the former (eight more than last summer) and 25 of the latter (six more).

The six auxiliary centres to be opened in Alicante province are: Calp La Fossa, Dénia Les Marines, Xàbia Arenal, Alicante Urbanova, Santa Pola Casa del Mar, and Santa Pola Playa Lisa.

The reinforced health centres include: Teulada-Moraira, l'Alfàs del Pi, Altea, Benidorm Tomás Ortuño, Benidorm Rincón de Loix, Benidorm La Cala, Benidorm Les Foietes, Callosa d'en Sarrià, La Nucia, CSI La Vila Joiosa, Alicante Cabo Huertas, CSI Campello, Alicante Playa de San Juan, Xixona, Alicante Urbanova, CSI Santa Pola, Santa Pola Gran Alacant, Isla de Tabarca, Elche Los Arenales, Elche Marina, CSI Guardamar de Segura, CSI Torrevieja La Loma, Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada-Torre de la Horadada, Torrevieja La Mata, Torrevieja El Acequión, Torrevieja San Luis, Torrevieja Patricio Pérez, CSI Rojales, and San Miguel de las Salinas.

The planned budget includes additional hires to reinforce Primary Care centres and clinics in high tourist areas, "provided there is available staff," explains the Health Ministry.

Additionally, substitution contracts are planned to cover healthcare staff on summer leave, a period typically extending from July to September. The plan anticipates "initially and always subject to staff availability," specifies the Ministry, over 8,600 hires in addition to reinforcement modules.

The CCOO union considers it "unacceptable" that the Health Ministry has publicised this holiday plan without prior presentation to union entities. "In the interest of transparency, this Ministry should have presented the Holiday Plan earlier to the Sectoral Table for input," CCOO states in a communiqué.

The union attributes the "slight" budget increase to the annual salary rise and requests detailed information on hospital bed closures and the extent to which activity in consultations or surgeries will decrease.