Roadmap of the Ministry of Health for this legislature, with the clear objective of stopping tobacco consumption in the general population and, especially, in adolescents and young people, as well as alcohol consumption by minors. And also in pregnant women.
This was indicated by the Minister of Health, Mónica García, before the Health Commission of Congress where she announced the approval, at last, of the comprehensive plan against smoking (it has been kept in the drawer since last year) that includes the reform of the current law to expand smoke-free spaces (terraces, outdoor sports spaces…) and a law against the consumption of alcohol by minors and pregnant women, a rule that has been in place since 2001 (it was announced by Mariano Rajoy) and that No Health Minister since then has made it a reality.
Regarding this law, García has indicated that his department is already working on a Draft Law focused on the protection of the health of minors with respect to alcohol consumption, alleging that according to the 2023 Estudes survey, more than 70% of people between 14 -18 years old had consumed alcohol in the last 12 months and just over half of people between 14-18 years old had consumed it in the last 30 days.
The draft of the Preliminary Project, which also incorporates the protection of pregnant women, wants to improve the current regulations that “have proven insufficient to address this problem, incorporating the perspective of public health and commercial determinants of health, in order to develop a series of policies that effectively prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors,” he says.
And also, implement a series of measures in the field of what is known as “environmental prevention to protect minors from exposure to the consumption of alcoholic beverages,” he points out.
What is this? According to a document from the National Drug Plan, the objective of environmental prevention is “to alter the immediate cultural, social, physical and economic environments in which people make their choices about drug use.” And it uses, among other strategies, legislation, such as taxes, restrictions in premises, in advertising, in the age of sale to minors, in labeling, etc. It also places great importance on reducing the availability of substances, the number of premises that can be accessed, or points of sale.
The minister has also reported that her department will approve the regulation of cannabis for therapeutic use in the coming months. “Spain cannot remain on the sidelines of international advances in this field, and therefore, it is imperative to address this issue with scientific rigor, ethical responsibility and social sensitivity,” García explained.
To do this, they will use the conclusions approved by the Subcommittee for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis of the Congress of Deputies. And it will be the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products that will prepare the proposal based on these premises: maximum quality guarantees and seeking to maximize the benefit for the patient and enjoy the greatest scientific evidence on the use of cannabis and cannabinoids.
The minister also made extensive reference to the lack of professionals, especially Family Doctors, announcing that she will expand the number of places by 15% and double those of resident internal psychologists.
Regarding Primary Care, “the backbone of the health system,” García announced a meeting with the communities on February 9 to address the problems.
Among the measures to debureaucratize health centers, García continues to support the self-justification of absence from work due to minor illness, a measure that will be studied with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, as well as with social dialogue.
More announcements: the minister recovers the Anti-Suicide Plan that former minister Carolina Darias announced but did not develop. She will also expand the portfolio of services with oral care for those over 65 years of age. She also commits to incorporating visual health, glasses and contact lenses into the common portfolio throughout the legislature.
