Denia set to return to the public fold
Health department will be run again by the regional government
THE REGIONAL government has officially told the private company running Denia health department that their concession will be ended when the contract expires on January 31, 2024.
Regional health councillor Miguel Mínguez reported that Marina Salud directors were informed on Tuesday of the rules for the recovery of the healthcare area by the public health service.
They have been briefed on the documentation that they have to hand over to the regional health department and been given deadlines for this to take place.
This is to ensure an ‘ordered, planned and smooth’ transition back into the public fold.
Sr Mínguez had explained last week in the regional parliament that a ‘working group of experts’ was formed in June to oversee the recovery of the department which covers the Marina Alta area and includes Denia hospital.
Part of their job is to ensure that it is done with ‘the maximum legal guarantees’ and to ‘avoid at all costs’ that the procedure ends up in the courts.
He admitted that it is a complex process but he hopes that the company will ‘cooperate’.
With healthcare professionals being in short supply in many countries of Europe including Spain, Sr Mínguez was at pains to offer reassurances to staff.
Their incorporation into the public health system would be carried out ‘with dialogue’ and he is hoping for a ‘natural transition, without conflict’.
The health department serves a large area which includes many small mountain villages.
The municipalities are Benissa, Teulada, Jalón, Alcalalí, Lliber, Senija, Calpe, Denia, La Xara, Gata de Gorgos, Jesús Pobre, Jávea, Ondara, Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Orba, Castell de Castells, Parcent, Sanet i
Negrals, Fleix, Benimaurell, Benimeli, Campell, Tormos, Benigembla, Sagra, Rafol d’Almunia, Murla, Pedreguer, Llosa de Camatxo, Pego, Atzuvia, Vall d’Ebo, Benialí, Alpatró, Forna, Benirrama, Benissili, Benisivá, Benitachell, Moraira, El Verger and Els Poblets.
According to state news agency EFE, the first payment to Marina Salud for their 15year concession was made on February 1, 2009, with the contract ending on January 31, 2024.
Parent company Ribera
Salud has not yet commented publically on the move.
They were forced to return the lucrative Torrevieja health department to the regional government in October, 2021.
Although there have been complaints from some residents citing a fall in standards at Torrevieja hospital since the take-over occurred, the Valencia government has invested heavily in the department, taking on additional nurses and doctors and making improvements to healthcare infrastructure.