Granada's Public Health Ambitions Face Institutional and Political Hurdles in 2026

Granada aims to be the headquarters of the new Agencia Estatal de Salud Pública (AESAP), leveraging its historical strength with the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública (EASP), a key institution since 1985. However, despite this legacy, the candidacy faces significant challenges tied to political and infrastructural issues in Andalusia.

Joan Carles March, a noted public health expert, highlights the contradiction in the region: while Granada is promoted as a public health stronghold, the current Partido Popular-led Andalusian government has weakened the EASP by integrating it into the Instituto de Salud de Andalucía, diluting its independence and strategic role. This undermines Granada's credibility for AESAP, especially as the Spanish government requires the agency to be sited in areas with adequate infrastructure and strong international connectivity — areas where Granada falls short.

Further complicating matters, Andalusia's public health policy has lacked coherence over the past seven years, casting doubt on the region's commitment. The Sociedad Española de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria (SESPAS) has called for the AESAP to operate as a robust public health intelligence agency, in opposition to the current weakening of institutional capacities.

Adding to public scrutiny, the documentary 'Salud no responde,' presented by Mareas Blancas de Andalucía on January 31, exposes the deterioration of Andalusia's public healthcare system through real patient and professional testimonies. This film underscores widespread concern about public health governance and service quality in the region.

For Granada’s candidacy to gain traction, it must restore the EASP's autonomy and demonstrate genuine political commitment to public health reform. Without such reforms, the future of AESAP in Granada remains uncertain amid political ambivalence and infrastructural challenges.