Roadmap of the Ministry of Health for this legislative term, with a clear objective: to curb tobacco consumption in the general population and, especially, in teenagers and young people, as well as alcohol intake by minors. And also in pregnant women.
This was indicated by the Minister of Health, Mónica García, before the Congressional Health Commission, where she announced the approval, at last, of the comprehensive plan against smoking (cornered since last year) which includes the reform of the current law to expand smoke-free spaces (terraces, outdoor sports spaces…) and a law to prevent the consumption of alcohol by minors and to protect pregnant women, a rule that has been in place since 2001 ( it was announced by Mariano Rajoy) and that no Minister of Health has managed to make it a reality.
Regarding this law, García pointed out that his department is already working on a draft law focused on the protection of the health of minors with respect to alcohol consumption which claims that, according to the 2023 Studies survey, more than 70% of people between 14 and 18 had consumed alcohol in the last 12 months and slightly more than half of people between 14 and 18 had consumed it in the last 30 days.
The preliminary draft, which also incorporates the protection of pregnant women, wants to improve the current regulations, which “have been shown to be insufficient to address this problem, incorporating the view of public health and commercial determinants of health”, it indicates . 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.
The minister, on the other hand, informed that her department will approve “in the coming months” the regulation of cannabis for therapeutic use. “Spain cannot be on the sidelines of international developments in this field, and that is why it is imperative to approach this issue with scientific rigor, ethical responsibility and social sensitivity”, he justified. For this reason, 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 of Medicines and Health Products that will draw up the proposal taking into account these premises: maximum quality guarantees, 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, and announced that she will expand the number of places by 15% and double those of in-house psychologists. Regarding primary care, “the backbone of the health system,” García announced a meeting with communities on February 9 to address the issues.
Among the measures to debureaucratize the health centers, García continues to bet on the self-justification of absence due to minor illness at the workplace, a measure he will study with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, as well as with the social dialogue.
More announcements: the Minister of Health was also willing to recover the plan against suicide that former Minister Carolina Darias announced, but did not develop. It will also expand the portfolio of services with oral care for the over 65s. At the same time, it is committed that visual health, glasses and contact lenses will be included in the common portfolio throughout the legislature.
