President of the Valencian Community, Ximo Puig, has announced a comprehensive reform of Valencian healthcare system. In a speech on Monday which opened the first day of the general policy debate, Puig announced major healthcare reform.
The first major announcement was the creation of a Valencian Emergency Unit, the UVE, with the capacity to intervene in any catastrophic situation, in addition to the reform of the institutional architecture of Valencian healthcare with the creation of the new Valencià de Salut Service and the Appointment of a Commissioner for the Transformation of Primary Care.
In addition, the head of the regional government announced an extension of 6 months for all contracts made during the pandemic to reinforce the health workforce, in addition to more consultations being made available in the evenings in health centres to alleviate the backlog of appointments.
Finally, before the end of the year, the government plans to award an additional payment to all health and social health workers in public residences who are working on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic in a bid to recognize their hard work and dedication. Puig also revealed proposals for 410 projects to take place over the next seven years based on five pillars: social inclusion; knowledge and research; ecological transition and territorial cohesion; economic resilience and transformation; and efficient administration.
In his speech, the president reviewed all the measures adopted during the pandemic and announced an ambitious plan for new centres, residences, shelters and sheltered housing throughout the Valencian territory, as well as a plan to improve existing facilities. The budget is €510 million.
Puig has also revealed that at the end of this year citizens will have three new courts – one per province – for matters related to the pandemic. The Consell plans to deploy the largest investment in judicial infrastructure of the last two decades over the next two years. Puig said, “now is the time for the City of Justice of Alicante.” Over the next two years the construction of 6 new justice buildings will begin: Alicante, Gandia, Torrent, Llíria, Vila Joiosa and the TSJ. The budget for the judicial project is €197 million. An €18 million project has also already been awarded to digitize the justice system and replace paper documents with digital files.