MADRID, 28 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The new Minister of Health, José Manuel Miñones, received the portfolio this Tuesday from the outgoing minister, Carolina Darias, and dedicated his first words to defending a “public, universal and quality” health system.
“My first words are of recognition, support and support for public health, one of the greatest achievements that we have achieved as a country, which makes us great as a nation”, Miñones highlighted in his first public intervention as Minister of Health at the event portfolio transfer.
After having previously promised the position before King Felipe in the Palacio de La Zarzuela, the new minister has insisted that within the Government he will defend “a public, universal, quality, equitable and sustainable health model, sensitive to the needs of the citizenship”. “This is how the Government has done it up to now and this is how we are going to continue doing it,” he proclaimed.
Once he has laid the foundations for what his model will be at the head of the Ministry, Miñones has recognized the “enormous work” of his predecessors in office for “all their dedication and professionalism”, especially citing Darias. “You have all my recognition and admiration”, he has said to her and ex-minister.
He has also referred to the new occupation of Darias, who in May will face the polls to try to be the new mayoress of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, her hometown. This is a link between Miñones and Darias, since the new minister was also mayor of Ames (A Coruña), before holding the position of government delegate in Galicia.
Miñones has defended “municipalism”, which he shares with Darias, for the management also at the head of the Ministry. “It is one of the pillars of politics. Being close to people to help people. It is something that I have always had in mind, first as mayor of Ames and then as a government delegate. Municipalism will continue to be present in this new stage” , has assured.
He has therefore promised to have “responsibility”, mixed with “equal doses of humility and illusion” to “continue doing the extraordinary work” that has been carried out during Darias’ term.
In line, the new minister, with a degree in Pharmacy, has sent messages to all agents in the health sector, promising to “work from the conviction that there is no spending on health, but investment in health.”
Miñones has also addressed the autonomous communities, which he has urged to act together to “continue protecting and advancing the right to health”. He also to the workers of the Ministry: “I hope to live up to your dedication and commitment. The door of my office will always be open.”
A “special thanks” has been dedicated to the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who already trusted him as a delegate in Galicia and now to form part of the hard core of the Executive. “There are many people who are valid and deserving of this position that I have the honor of assuming”, he has wielded.
Finally, Miñones has focused his words on health professionals, both “whom he cares for in cities and in the furthest corner of our geography”.
“I assure you that for the young man who many years ago crossed the campus of the University of Santiago to the Faculty of Pharmacy, the principle of applying all my knowledge and skills to promote the health and well-being of all those people to whom I serve. I am sure that, step by step, we will continue to build a great country”, he concluded.
Eight members of the coalition government attended the act of transferring portfolios, which was held as usual in the Ernest Lluch Assembly Hall of the Ministry of Health, on Paseo del Prado in Madrid: the spokeswoman, Isabel Rodríguez, the Ministers of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, of the Economy, Nadia Calviño, of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, of the Treasury, María Jesús Montero, of Justice, Pilar Llop, of Science, Diana Morant, and of Education, Pilar Alegría.
Also present were government officials such as the new director of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, socialist deputies (including former minister María Luisa Carcedo), the director of the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), Fernando Simón, the secretary of State of Health, Silvia Calzón, the director of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Cristóbal Belda, or the director of the National Transplant Organization (ONT), Beatriz Domínguez-Gil.
Likewise, the Ernest Lluch Hall has brought together agents from the entire health sector, such as representatives of the general councils of doctors, nurses and pharmacists, scientific societies or the employers’ associations of the pharmaceutical industry and private health.
