Pedro Sánchez: "In seven years we have increased investment in public health by 45%"

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, addresses the chamber during the control session (Pool Congreso)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has once again defended in the Lower House of Parliament the efforts made by the Executive on issues such as investment in healthcare, the international defence of human rights and the protection of rights such as the voluntary termination of pregnancy. According to the leader of the Executive, these policies reflect the intention to "defend ordinary people".

"We have increased investment in public health by 45% in the last seven years. This government has proposed the ratification of a royal decree law to place an embargo on Mr Netanyahu's government and stop the genocide in Gaza. And it has proposed a reform of the Constitution to shield women's right to the voluntary termination of pregnancy from attacks by the far-right", argued the president in his response to Alberto Núñez Feijóo, a member of the People's Parliamentary Group, during the control session.

On the last question, the leader of the Executive backed up the need for the proposal with international data: "In Portugal, 70% of all voluntary terminations of pregnancy are performed in the public health system; in Sweden, 99%; in Italy, 94%; in the Community of Madrid, only 1%. This is a violation of women's rights, recognised and guaranteed by the Constitution and the law".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, with the First Vice-President, María Jesús Montero, the Second Vice-President, Yolanda Díaz; and the Third Vice-President, Sara Aagesen | Pool Congreso

Healthcare challenges in the Basque Country

The president also referred to the healthcare sector in his response to Maribel Vaquero, a member of the Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ-PNV), in which he defended the Executive's commitment to the Basque Government's demands in health-related matters and reiterated the "commitment to dialogue" in order to tackle the pending challenges.

"We are very aware of the concerns expressed by your government: the shortage of coverage in summer, and also the need for more professionals in specialised areas", said the president, who also listed achievements such as the 50% increase in specialised healthcare training places -54% in the Basque Country-, the reform of the processes for choosing MIR places and the processes for the accreditation of specialists trained abroad.

The president also referred at this point to the use of European funds: the PERTE for Vanguard Health, which is facilitating the digitalisation of primary care and personalised care in the communities, and the IDEA programme, launched after the pandemic to improve hospital care with state-of-the-art equipment.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks during the control session in the Lower House of Parliament | Pool Congreso

Government involvement with Galicia

In response to a question from Néstor Rego, a member of the Mixed Parliamentary Group, Pedro Sánchez began by assuring that the Government is complying with the investiture agreement and continued by recalling the infrastructure investments made in Galicia: "We are making great progress in infrastructure, with discounts for users of the AP-9 and AP-53 that have reached up to 75%, a figure higher than initially requested". He also highlighted the A-54, which is now fully operational, as well as the opening of the new Castro viaducts and the recently opened Oural railway tunnel on the Lugo-Ourense line.

The President of the Government of Spain also highlighted the progress made by the Executive in social policies, such as the revaluation of the pensions of 700,000 Galician pensioners. "The average pension in Galicia is 40% higher than it was seven years ago. I believe that this government's commitment to the people and to the economic development of Galicia is total, absolute", he stressed.

In addition, the head of the Executive highlighted the steps taken in the area of self-government in Galicia, recalling the transfer of powers over coastal planning and management; the cancellation of more than 4 billion euros of debt; the effort through the Recovery Plan, with 4.1 billion; and projects such as the F-110 frigates, with a budget of 4.9 billion and the creation of 6,000 jobs.

Non official translation