castilla-La Mancha’s Public Health Focus Praised as National Forum Addresses Key Challenges
TOLEDO, SPAIN – October 28, 2024 – Laura Ruiz, a key figure in public health, recently underscored the significant efforts of Castilla-La Mancha in prioritizing preventative healthcare measures, including heat prevention, disease-transmitting vector surveillance, and the promotion of healthy habits. Her remarks came during “Public Health in Dialogues,” a national forum dedicated to analyzing and discussing critical issues facing the Spanish health system.
The forum, designed to foster dialog around a more equitable and lasting national health system (SNS), highlighted the urgent need to attract and retain talent within the public health sector. Ruiz emphasized the cost-effectiveness of investing in preventative public health initiatives, advocating for increased visibility of the work done in this area to garner greater societal understanding and support.
“Few measures are as cost-effective as investment in public health,” Ruiz stated, highlighting the value of proactive healthcare strategies.
“Public Health in Dialogues” convened experts from various institutions, including Ángel gil de Miguel (rey Juan Carlos University), representatives from GSK (Ana Hernando, José Luis Lannegrand, Daryl Álvarez), CSL Seqirus (Pepe Meseguer, Nacho Ruiz, Blanca Maraver), and leading scientific societies – Patricia Ruiz (Seimc), Verónica Ortiz (SECA), Daniel Troncoso (SEMPSPGS), and pilar Serrano (Amasap). Professor José Javier Castrodeza of the University of Valladolid participated remotely.
The initiative’s first season also featured discussions with public health directors from several autonomous communities: Manuel Fernández (andalusia), José Fernando Díaz-Flores (Canary Islands), Nuria Gayán (Aragon), Carmen Durán (Galicia), and Elena Andradas (Community of Madrid).
The forum addressed key challenges such as prevention and vaccination against respiratory viruses, surveillance systems, and intergenerational equity, aiming to contribute to strategies for a future-ready SNS.
