Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 17 Mar. (Europa Press) –
The Governing Council of the Canary Islands has provisionally sanctioned a new socio-health strategy on Monday, which will remain in effect until 2030. This initiative will facilitate the utilisation of FDCAN funds and the RIC to construct socio-health facilities and increase capacity across the islands.
Minister of Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado, announced the details during a press conference, stating that this represents a “historic opportunity” to “transform the model” within the archipelago, which is an “absolute priority” for the government.
She explained that the document was developed by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Health with the aim of ensuring a “comprehensive” social care system that promotes services irrespective of geographical location, fosters co-governance, aligns resources to needs, and enhances the training of workers.
The strategy encompasses amendments to the land law to prioritise social infrastructure, the establishment of a socio-health cluster to aid technological companies through tax incentives, and the enhancement of public-private collaboration to generate new placements.
Nonetheless, she emphasised that efforts are also underway to advance the “deinstitutionalisation” of adults and dependents, with a home support programme that has already been tendered, backed by European funds totalling €22.5 million, to bolster an advanced telecare system.
Developed by a specialised consultant, the strategy employs a multilevel and multifactorial community perspective reflecting the realities of the archipelago. It sets forth objectives grounded in the assurance of equal access, institutional coordination, comprehensive care, and adaptability to the evolving needs of the population, always with a focus on person-centred care.
The strategy outlines ten critical areas to address socio-health requirements in sectors such as dependency, disability, chronic illnesses and fragility, palliative and end-of-life care, addictions, mental health, early intervention, rare diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and individuals at risk of social exclusion.
This document aims to energise integrated and coordinated care between health services and social services, detailing the development of tools to facilitate execution and collaboration among the Autonomous, Insular, and Municipal Administrations. It also aspires to harmonise actions necessary for advancement in this domain by Councils and organisations responsible for both social and health matters, including other sectors such as training, employment, and regional development, among others.
