A new mental health plan for the Valencian region was unveiled on Monday, signaling a shift in the budget conversation between the regional parties PPCV and PSPV-PSOE. Early reactions came from well-known figures who argued that the plan is not included in next year’s budget and that the 2021 version was merely a copy-paste effort. The socialist camp responded swiftly, stressing the plan’s bold scope while critics from the Popular party labeled the reception as merely shrill and discouraging.
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Juan Jose Zaplana, the health spokesperson for the Popular group in the Valencian Parliament, was the first to raise concerns. He asserted that the plan presented by the Generalitat’s chair, Ximo Puig, has no dedicated line in the upcoming year’s budget and that the 2021 version appears to be a repetition of earlier proposals. In his statements, Zaplana warned that the 40 million euros Puig claimed would be allocated in 2023 do not appear in the current budgets. Taxes, allocations, and the funding timeline were all part of his critique, casting doubt on the plan’s fiscal footing.
A special employment plan for 250 more professionals and people with mental health problems in the province of Alicante
Zaplana further argued that the plan remains at the mercy of political cycles, noting that it lands in a legislature with only six months left to run. He dismissed the presentation as a mix of hype and rhetoric that repeats promises first voiced in August 2021. He claimed that the program could be launched within a year and a half once the day arrives, with medical and support staff brought on as needed, if political will aligns with practical steps.
250 professionals
The plan outlines an initial recruitment drive for 250 professionals, followed by ongoing staffing enhancements in the coming years as the strategy scales toward 2026. It is designed to unfold through a citizen-led process, incorporating direct input from local communities. Key components include the opening of new day hospitals across all health areas, the activation of six mobile home care teams, a strengthened suicide prevention program, and targeted employment opportunities for people dealing with mental health challenges. The objective is to create a more responsive and accessible mental health network that can adapt to evolving community needs.
In reaction, a PSPV spokesperson for health in Cortes highlighted that PPCV’s criticisms are distasteful because the plan stands as one of the most ambitious mental health initiatives in the country. The Socialist MP argued that the Consell has already distributed 40 million euros across several budget lines, a detail that suggests critics may not be fully reading the financial plan. This exchange reflects how governance and funding details can shape public perception and political debate around health policy. [Attribution: regional government communications and party statements]