The Minister of Health, Alberto Martínez, and the Director General of Osakidetza, Lorea Bilbao, made an institutional visit this morning to the new facilities of the health center in Mundaka. Accompanied by the town's mayor, Sorne Rubio, they emphasized the necessary collaboration between institutions to realize an infrastructure that substantially improves healthcare for over 1,650 inhabitants.
The medical center, which officially reopened its doors last Monday, May 18th, after a thorough renovation, features modern spaces adapted to the municipality's real needs. During the visit, Minister Alberto Martínez highlighted the Basque Health Service's capacity to "directly offer a primary care service in small rural and coastal municipalities," a key factor in ensuring territorial cohesion.
The transformation of this space not only aims for comfort but also to effectively respond to Mundaka's demographic reality. "This intervention is particularly relevant in a municipality characterized by high ratios of an aging population, as almost a fifth of the residents are over 75 years old," remarked the Health official, valuing the effort to bring quality medicine closer to local environments.
To address this user profile, Osakidetza's staff, forming an integral team of doctors and nurses, carry out daily activities focused on chronic or frail patients. Likewise, the space renovation optimizes regular family medicine consultations and decisively promotes community health initiatives in the town.
Another significant benefit of this reform is the consolidation of much more fluid and direct communication with the two elderly care residences located in the coastal town itself. In terms of layout, the clinic now houses a medical consultation room, a nursing consultation room, and a multipurpose area for blood tests, functional tests, and wound care, all complemented by adapted restrooms and a larger waiting room.
Furthermore, the Minister drew a direct comparison with the international context to underscore the uniqueness and investment effort of the regional administration. "I want to compare it with the rest of Europe: in the Basque Country, we have over 400 health centers, clinics, and outpatient facilities within Osakidetza. In France, there are none; in Germany, none; in the Netherlands, none. You practically have to go to Finland to have primary care like ours," the minister asserted emphatically. Thus, the Executive representative positioned the Basque infrastructure at the community forefront, valuing the proximity and accessible service: "this is an example of accessibility, as for a patient needing a doctor, the waiting time is one day, and for a nurse, it's the same day. If they need to go to Bermeo for pediatrics, it's also done the same day," he stressed.
Finally, on the technical side, the facility stands out for its strong commitment to architectural sustainability by incorporating aerothermal technology. This system ensures efficient thermal control that minimizes energy consumption, aligning with the strategy to progressively reduce the carbon footprint.
This modernization is part of the strategic objectives of the Basque Health Pact to safeguard and enhance Primary Care, reaffirming a roadmap based on proximity and equity.
