The Orihuela Council is taking steps to address the public healthcare shortage in Orihuela Costa, where the only existing health facility, the Aguamarina clinic, is struggling to serve a population of thirty thousand residents year-round. With pressure on the clinic intensifying every summer, residents have long awaited decisive action from local authorities. Recently, a decree from the Valencian Government provided a glimmer of hope by reviving a healthcare Building Plan designed to expedite the construction of health facilities across the region.

Under this new plan, the Generalitat will fund the construction of new healthcare buildings while allowing qualifying municipalities to manage execution. Orihuela is among five municipalities eligible for this initiative, alongside Burriana, Santa Pola, Torrent-El Vedat, and Mislata. The regional Ministry of Health confirmed that these municipalities meet specific criteria, thus opening the door for potential improvements.

Mayor Pepe Vegara has announced plans to move forward with the construction of a second health centre on the coast, despite the current Aguamarina facility’s pending expansion. A site of twelve thousand square metres in Los Altos has been secured for the proposed new centre, which aligns with commitments made by regional President Carlos Mazón during his campaign. However, only one project is permitted per municipality under the new decree.

Despite local support for both a new facility and the expansion of the existing Aguamarina clinic, only the latter has been included in the Generalitat’s budget for the past two years. Conditions at the Aguamarina have deteriorated, with visible signs of neglect becoming a symbol of inaction in a community facing ongoing public service shortcomings.