Within the framework of the Basque Health Pact, the Health Minister of the Basque Government, Alberto Martínez, has announced the call for bilateral meetings with the platforms that defend public health. This announcement was made before the second meeting of the pact, which took place at the Biodonostia center in San Sebastián. Martínez has stressed that the The objective is to collect the “sensitivities” of these groupswhich reflects an effort to ensure that all voices are heard in the process of transforming the health system.
“It is evident that the Challenge for the future of health unites us and denotes a degree of harmony to advance towards future phases that will require even greater dedication and complexity.“, with these words Martínez, evaluated the first month of work of the Basque Pact for Health Table, whose first phase, corresponding to the diagnosis, now enters its final stretch.
From this stage, the focus will shift towards the development of “principles, strategies and governance” that will guide the future of the health system in Euskadi. “We work to reach a plural agreement and shared with which we can lay the foundations for the health of the future of Euskadi,” he stated, recognizing that this challenge represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the well-being of the community.
Inclusion of new entities
At the meeting, which has attracted the attention of different representatives of platforms in defense of public health, as well as other groups, Martínez highlighted that The representation of the pact has been expanded with the inclusion of new entities. Specifically, they incorporate the ESK union, the nursing assistants union, the Association of Mentally Ill Patients and their families, and the College of Opticians and Optometrists. This expansion seeks to ensure an “extensive, plural and multidisciplinary” work table that allows us to collaboratively address the current challenges of the health system.
The counselor has also emphasized that The Basque Health Pact must articulate different policies and programs around a comprehensive vision of the system. According to Martínez, collaboration between the various agents involved in this process is essential to create a health model that reflects the needs and demands of the Basque population.
Diagnostic phase
The diagnostic phasewhich is about to conclude, has been a period of great dynamismaccording to the counselor. “There have been four weeks of great dynamism on the part of the agents, of great interest and great involvement,” he indicated, thanking the attitude and commitment shown by all the participants. During the meeting, the professor at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Javier Meana, will present the diagnostic document that brings together the contributions received in the previous weeks, which will allow laying the foundations for the following phases of the pact.
Despite the criticism received from some platforms that have expressed their desire to participate more actively at the pact table, Martínez recalled that these groups have already had a municipal scope of action. However, he has announced that he is going to “invite the secretary himself, Professor Meana, to have bilateral meetings with the associations, with interested people, so that these sensitivities can also be reflected in the bilateral meetings”because what is not possible is for there to be “more than 35 or 40 people at the table because it would be ungovernable.” “The platforms that want will be able to have bilateral meetings to be able to convey their messages,” he noted.
Transform the health system in Euskadi
The Basque Health Pact is presented as a key initiative to transform the health system in Euskadiarticulating a more comprehensive and participatory approach. Martínez has been optimistic about the progress of this process and is confident that, with the collaboration of all actors, the public health challenges facing the community can be met.
This collaborative approach not only seeks to improve the quality of the health system, but also foster an environment where all interested parties can contribute to defining a healthier future for Euskadi. By holding bilateral meetings and focusing on social sensitivity, the Basque Government demonstrates its commitment to building a more inclusive and effective health system.
Meeting points
Following Martínez’s statements, Meana explained the main aspects of the diagnosis. This document analyzes seven specific aspects: demographic diagnosis, morbidity and mortality, social determinants and lifestyles, healthcare resources and use, social and technological context, economic resources and citizen experience. Furthermore, Meana has explained that Other contributions related to the third phase have been collected, that corresponding to the strategiesmethodologically choosing to distinguish the six areas of reflection: health and citizen demand; quality and safety; professionals; information; health sector as a creator of value or engine of economic growth; and modernization of health infrastructures.
So that the pact can be operational in March 2025, four phases have been planned, the next scheduled for October 30 and whose objective will be to define the principles on which future strategies and actions will subsequently be based.