One hundred people gathered this morning outside the Patricio Pérez Health Centre in Torrevieja to advocate for improved public health resources. The demonstration coincided with World Health Day and aimed to raise awareness of the need for Valencian health spending to align with the national average by two thousand twenty-five.

The Community of Valencia currently ranks fourth in Spain for the lowest health expenditure, following Catalonia, Murcia, and Madrid. Budget figures reveal that the region’s spending per capita is set at one thousand five hundred eighty-six euros, contrasted with the Spanish average of one thousand nine hundred ninety-four euros. In Torrevieja, the per capita spending is even lower at one thousand twenty-two euros.

Organised by the Platform for One Hundred Percent Public and Quality Healthcare, the protest caused a temporary street closure, impacting traffic during the busy Monday morning hours. The platform, which has championed healthcare rights for over three years, represents ten municipalities, including Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa.

The demonstrators called on the Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, to speak out against the perceived disparity in healthcare funding. The ongoing issues with appointment delays, averaging between seven and ten days at the health centre, highlight the urgency of their demands for improved public health services.