Valencia’s public health system has become a focal point in a new political clash between the People’s Party and PSPV-PSOE. In a recent address, the regional president of the PP, Carlos Mazón, pressed the case that public health in the Valencian Community is collapsing due to perceived inattention and insufficient support for healthcare professionals. He warned that several health departments lack adequate incentives, staffing, and long-standing problem-solving measures, citing the situation after a meeting with Hospital de Vinaròs unions in Castellón as a concrete example of neglect by the administration. Mazón called for immediate action to stabilize services and reverse the trend of stalled progress in health care delivery. [Attribution: Castellón regional health unions meeting]
Priority
The PPCV president insisted that the Puig administration has treated Valencian health as a low priority. He argued that public health deteriorated significantly under the current regional government, highlighting districts with reduced medical coverage and a shortage of ambulances accompanied by doctor vacancies. Mazón proposed dedicating at least 30 percent of the regional budget to health and creating clear incentives to attract new health staff and retain those already on the payroll. He characterized the current health situation as one of notable neglect across multiple municipalities and urged the administration to find an urgent remedy to the strain on Valencia’s public health network. [Attribution: PPCV policy briefing]
He emphasized the need for concrete steps to restore accessible health care for communities that depend on regional services, stressing that urgent reforms should focus on infrastructure, staffing, and responsive patient care. [Attribution: PPCV policy outline]
More than 165 million workers will work in hospitals and health centers in the province in 2023.
In response, the Health spokesperson for the PSPV in the Valencian Parliament defended the Socialist government’s commitment to health. Carmen Martínez reiterated that the socialists have prioritized health coverage and infrastructure investments, pointing to a health budget that reached record levels for the coming year. She stated that Valencians enjoy stronger health services today than in 2015, a year marked by cuts and underinvestment under the previous administration. Martínez highlighted that the health allocation in the Generalitat Valenciana budget represents the largest single portion of the total budget, totaling 8.258 billion euros in 2023, which is about 50 percent higher than in 2015. She also noted that the plan includes one of the largest health investment programs to date, totaling 520 million euros. [Attribution: PSPV health spokesperson statement]
outpatient emergencies
Martínez pointed to measures taken to keep outpatient emergency services open and accessible rather than shutting them down as seen in some other autonomous communities. She noted that this year more than 6,000 new positions for medical staff have been created, including around 1,200 doctor roles, representing roughly 20 percent of the growth. This expansion is framed as a structural strengthening of the workforce. Martínez argued that a policy approach built on cuts would be replaced by a model that solidifies primary care, expands facilities and equipment, grows health contracts, and reduces patient co-payments. This approach is intended to improve timely access to care and reduce bottlenecks in hospital admissions. [Attribution: PSPV health strategy briefing]