New mental health plan in the Valencian region was unveiled on Monday, marking a notable shift in the health policy landscape and signaling a transition between political groups. Some observers argued that the project would not appear in next year’s regional budgets and claimed that the plan, first introduced in 2021, looked like a simple copy-paste. The socialist camp responded without delay, emphasizing the plan’s ambition while critics from the rival side labeled certain critiques as unfounded or overly negative.
specific item
The health spokesperson for the Popular Group in the Valencia Courts was quick to react, asserting that the plan proposed by the Generalitat president did not include a dedicated item in the forthcoming year’s budget and that elements of the 2021 proposal remained unchanged. He argued that the budget for 2023 did not reflect the 40 million euros claimed by the president to be allocated to the plan. These comments underscored ongoing tensions between the two blocs over funding and the plan’s real scope.
A special employment plan for 250 more professionals and people with mental health problems in the province of Alicante
The same spokesperson warned that the program would take shape over time, noting that it was still distant from the current legislative term. He dismissed the presentation as largely promotional, repeating promises from the August 2021 cycle. He claimed that progress would begin soon and that additional staff would be hired as the program rolled out.
250 professionals
The plan proposes an initial recruitment drive of 250 professionals, with further staffing increases anticipated in the coming years as the program expands. The strategy is expected to unfold through 2026 and is rooted in a process that involved citizen participation. It also includes the opening of new day hospitals across health areas, the activation of mobile home care teams, the consolidation of a suicide prevention initiative, and the creation of roles focused on supporting people with mental health challenges.
The socialist health spokesperson in Cortes noted that critics from the Popular Party were dismissive by calling the effort “sad,” arguing that the plan represents one of the most ambitious mental health initiatives in the country. She pointed out that the council had allocated funding across multiple budget lines, suggesting that the concerns about budget coverage may reflect a misreading of the financial plan rather than a shortfall in funds.