Rural Healthcare Vital for Equity in Spain's Territorial Health Systems as Granada Bids to Host National Public Health Agency
Health authorities highlight rural healthcare's key role in equity while supporting Granada's bid to host Spain’s new national public health agency to bolster territorial health systems.
- • Rural healthcare is essential for equitable access to medical services across Spain's territories, according to Aragon's Health Minister José Luis Bancalero Flores.
- • Bancalero emphasizes the need for incentives to attract healthcare professionals to rural areas and acknowledges recent infrastructure upgrades despite challenges like flooding.
- • The Sociedad Andaluza de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria supports Granada’s candidacy to host the Agencia Estatal de Salud Pública (AESAP) to strengthen public health and territorial cohesion.
- • Granada’s assets include the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública and Parque Tecnológico de la Salud, with AESAP seen as a strategic step to combat depopulation and improve health surveillance nationwide.
Key details
José Luis Bancalero Flores, Health Minister of the Government of Aragon, emphasized the essential role that rural healthcare plays in ensuring equitable access to medical services across Spain's diverse territories. During a visit to Calanda, Aragon, Bancalero attended the screening of 'El discreto encanto de la medicina rural,' a video highlighting healthcare professionals' experiences in rural areas. He noted that rural healthcare supports many local residents who contribute to agriculture and the regional economy, thereby reinforcing community identity and sustaining life in sparsely populated regions.
Bancalero acknowledged challenges in recruiting healthcare professionals to rural settings and stressed the need for real incentives to make these positions more attractive. He also visited the Campo de Belchite health center, which had recently dealt with severe flooding, commending the staff and noting new equipment upgrades such as an ultrasound machine.
In parallel, the Sociedad Andaluza de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria (SASPAS-HIPATIA) has publicly supported Granada’s bid to host the Agencia Estatal de Salud Pública (AESAP), a newly established national agency aimed at enhancing Spain’s public health infrastructure. The agency, created by Law 7/2025, focuses on epidemiological surveillance, health risk assessment, and emergency preparedness, crucial elements in addressing public health and territorial cohesion.
Granada’s candidacy is backed by over 40 institutions, including the Junta de Andalucía and the University of Granada. SASPAS-HIPATIA cited Granada's strong assets like the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, with 40 years of experience and WHO collaboration, along with the Parque Tecnológico de la Salud. Hosting AESAP in Granada is expected to strengthen public health efforts, combat depopulation in eastern Andalucía, and attract national and international talent, reflecting the broader goal of reducing territorial health disparities in Spain.
These developments underscore the importance of robust rural healthcare and strategic placement of national health agencies to promote equity and resilience within Spain’s territorial health systems.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
