There is rarely unanimity in the chamber and this Thursday we had an example with the approval of the ALS Law. But despite the historic moment, it is worth remembering that this initiative has gone through a slow process of three years, two legislatures and many delays before becoming a reality.
At this point, and at a time when the work of parliamentarians is under scrutiny, it is pertinent to address whether it is efficient – and even coherent – for politicians to take years to prepare, agree on and give the green light to the regulations they They concern a fundamental sector, such as health, and that directly affects citizens. It goes without saying the importance and potential of this industry and the weight of the agents involved in the sector.
In fact, legislators and politicians They have several challenges ahead in Public Health. A good diagnosis was made by the CES, which delivered it to the minister herself, Mónica García. When putting some of these challenges in black and white, we must start with a fundamental aspect, which is financing of the National Health Systempending the General State Budgets. Or much hotter and more recurring topics, which we have been highlighting in Gaceta Médica for months, such as lack of human resources among doctors and nurses. The figures are alarming. According to the Need Report for specialist doctors in Spain 2023-2035, it is estimated that there is a shortage of 5,874 doctors in 2023, 76 percent of them in Primary Care. The figures are not more promising for 2025, when the retirement of 12,316 doctors is expected compared to the qualification of 9,940 new doctors.
The problem of lack of personnel is an issue that concerns the CCAA in particular, which extends to the national level in general and which transcends to the international level. As the WHO has emphasized, in 2030 there will be a deficit of 10 million health workers in the world. A solution, in part, could involve a consensus between political forces that would improve the conditions of professionals. The much-used motto of “taking care of those who take care of us.”
Another of the main questions to face is the fit of innovations, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI)in the health field, as well as other proposals that have already advanced and are being implemented. This is the case of telemedicine or the interoperability of health data. Regarding AI, experts assure that it is already transforming family medicine, for example, automating processes that make it easier for family doctors to dedicate more time to patients, improving their quality of life and of course their health.
Aside from these challenges, we are aware that the Executive and Legislative powers already have their focus on some issues that occupy the front pages, that are remembered much more when their world or international day is celebrated, but on which we must continue taking steps. accurate and quickly. For example, the Comprehensive Mental Health Plan and Suicide Prevention Planinitiatives both announced by the Ministry, and whose importance was recalled this week by the Commissioner of Mental Health, Belén González during her participation in the “Women in Health” event. The commissioner announced its launch by 2025, which is just around the corner.
Another of the main topics on the political agenda related to health is cancer, pathology whose diagnoses have increased this year by nearly 3 percent. This plan is in the middle of the development process in implementation of the different strategic lines, among which is early detection that addresses population screening for cancer. The Executive’s Strategy in this line includes among its actions maintaining a line of periodic evaluation of the evidence of screening for different types of cancer to know if they are efficient and effective in terms of health impact.
The achievements achieved so far in this area include the approval last year of the right to be forgotten oncology and the unanimous approval in the Interministerial Price Commission (CIPM) of the financing of two key medications to fight metastatic breast cancer. Advances that are still not enough in the fight against a disease that this year has sickened almost 290,000 people in our country.
On the other hand, we must remind our politicians that we must pay special attention, by creating a legislative framework that protects us, to possible new pandemics. The coronavirus made it very clear and, when winter arrives, new variants, like now XEC, put us on alert. But are we prepared for a new pandemic? Maybe we need something more from our politicians; legislative support that helps us breathe easy when news of new viruses and variants fill the news.
A new sensitivity to health issues is what representatives and senators need when they sit in the chamber to debate these issues. Put in their agendas and in their heads the idea that “We will only be safe if we are all safe”. Because there are things that can’t wait. And health is one of the most important.
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