The budget of the Aragonese Health Service will rise in 2027 to 3.030 billion euros, within the 3.182 billion euros planned for the Department of Health, "a reflection of care priority and investment," the Health minister, Ángel Sanz, said this Tuesday during his appearance before the Courts of Aragon Commission to present the accounts for next year.
As Sanz has detailed, this is 418 million euros more than in 2024, which represents an increase of 15%, and 633 million additional compared to 2023. He has emphasized that Salud absorbs 95% of the Department’s total budget.
Within the Salud accounts, he has focused on the 1.619 billion euros in Chapter 1, aimed at reinforcing staffing stability and care activity, and on the 857 million euros in Chapter 2, where supplies and medical equipment are included. The Mental Health area will have 15,74 million euros and 21 million will be set aside for concerts and subsidies, among other measures aimed at reducing the waiting lists for minor surgery.
Among other spending lines, 455 million euros for extrahospital pharmacy stand out and an item of 92,5 million euros intended for works such as the new health centers of Cuarte de Huerva, Zuera, Utebo and Arcosur, as well as the expansion of Caspe. In addition, the reform of the Urgencies of Calatayud will be carried out with 6,3 million and progress will be made on the new Royo Villanova project with 5 million euros.
The budget for the administrative structure of the Department of Health stands at 121 million euros, 20% less than in 2024. This decline is explained by the completion of projects financed with European funds MRR.
The Aragonese Institute of Health Sciences will have 18 million euros, which represents a 10% increase compared to the previous budget, while the Blood and Tissue Bank will have 12,3 million, ten points more than in 2023.
With regard to the technical general secretariat, the budgetary credit grows by 3.9% compared to 2024 and by 0.3% over 2023, "a sign of the stability of the support structure."
The General Directorate of Inspection and Health Policy will manage 33 million euros, intended for control actions and ensuring rights. A new annual inspection plan will be prepared and a specific item for medical transport will be included.
In the field of Management and Teaching, the own budget amounts to 10.19 million euros. “The planning and ordering of training and teaching resources connect with stable funding from the implementing bodies,” Sanz has said, who has advanced that the hospitals of Alcañiz, Barbastro, Calatayud and Nuestra Señora de Gracia, the latter in Zaragoza, will be accredited as universities, and that the updating of the health map will be carried out.
The Directorate General of Public Health will have 53.6 million euros, 5.4% more than in 2024 and 14% above the last budget of the previous Government, corresponding to 2023. With these allocations, it is planned to develop actions for epidemiological surveillance, prevention, health promotion, environmental health and collective vaccination, as well as to consolidate a permanent capacity for prevention and anticipation, the minister has said.
Screenings and care
The breast cancer screening program will expand its age range to 45-74 years and measures will be promoted to increase the participation of the target population in colorectal screening, with cervical screening also being extended.
The 2027 regional accounts set aside 1.44 million euros for the Directorate General of Care and Humanization, 18% more than in 2024. The Department of Health will promote improved perceived quality, humanization and support for groups and associations, integrating the patient’s experience into public policies.
The Directorate General of Digital Health will have 600,000 euros for applications, within a total of 2.94 million euros of own funds. Specific treatment will be given to Artificial Intelligence projects.
Positioning of the parliamentary groups
PP deputy Fernando Ledesma has emphasized that this is the largest health budget in the history of Aragón and has stressed that “it is a budget, something that not everyone can say.” He has recalled that more than one out of every three euros from the regional accounts is directed to this matter and has valued the increase in the personnel chapter.
For the PSOE, deputy María Rodrigo has described the accounts project as “the greatest display of illusionism and health propaganda of the last years” and has maintained that “it does not improve the quality of care for people in Aragón, nor the conditions of healthcare personnel, and it maintains the good health of private companies.”
Vox spokesperson Santiago Morón has asked "whether it will be enough to guarantee the quality of the service" and what population the calculation is based on, defending the principle of national priority. In his view, "not everything is solved with money; if there are not enough specialists and we increase the population, there is an increase in waiting lists and a progressive deterioration of public services."
From CHA, the MP Isabel Lasobras has considered that the Health accounts are "continuist and ideological in nature" and has denounced that "the waiting lists drag on and the Government keeps silent".
Representing Aragón-Teruel Existe, MP Pilar Buj has stated that "the budget does not pass," recalling that Health has had to spend far above what was initially planned, with real growth of 3.3%.