Gimón At Antonia Revuelta the English federation president Cancer Mama (FECMA) and AMUCCAM-Cantabrian Advisory Member Health Observatory Cantabrian
the health users at general patients particular value positively the existence in our country of a National Health
public, universal, free, funded through taxation and decentralized management. Data such as the aging population, the chronicity of some diseases, the demand for new services, the cost of treatment, the incorporation of technological and pharmaceutical expenditure, raise the debate on how to keep the current efficiency of public health, without changes in management and without further human and budgetary resources.
Health is a basic element of the welfare state in Spain is maintained with public funds, an expense that absorbs 60,000 million euros per year, equivalent to 6% of GDP and that spending continues to grow. The guarantee assistance to all people, represents an average per capita contribution of 1,816 euros in Spain and the cost of Chapter pharmacist (32%) is higher than the EU average (25%). In 2009, 17,000 million euros spent on drugs (12,000 million in pharmacies and 5,000 million in hospitals).
health spending growth affects the sustainability of the system, the system benefits coverage and the balance of public accounts.
Patients are not unaware of these realities, we are not outside the debate on public funding of health care. We are told that you can not keep growing health deficit accumulated, but it is not correct to talk of budget deficits in health, because there are no predetermined income that relate to expenditure incurred and the right thing would be to tell the difference between budgeted expenditure and expenditure real.
As a user, and as head of the Federation of Associations of Women - breast cancer patients, public health advocate and want to continue betting on the sustainability of the public system, because I recognize and appreciate the quality of care they receive and the universal right to benefits. I agree with those who say that public health must remain a strategic element of social cohesion, equality and active engine of the new economy. Our health care is managed in a decentralized model for transfer of powers to the Autonomous Communities, but this does not change the constitutional right to health or the rupture of a public health system that remains unique.
If facing a public budget differences between income and expenditure, intervention will be needed to address these differences with a decrease in expenses or increased revenues. That is a responsibility of public authorities, as is also their responsibility to the availability of a Service Charter common to all health administrations.
Some experts suggest the need to examine the cost and effectiveness of new techniques, benefits, services or drugs that enter the health system. If that arises, we must add that it is wrong coolly assess certain costs when it comes to its effectiveness on human lives. Where I have been able, I have reiterated the need a pact for sustainability, cohesion and quality of NHS, a pact of state and political nature to avoid confrontation with the users, patients and professionals, that starts with a description of the real situation allow an accurate diagnosis and an approach to the issues on which to propose reasonable solutions. Among these solutions appear as a priority the funding of the System itself.
The Covenant should be promoted by the Government, coordinated by the Inter-Territorial Board of Health and approved by Parliament, who propose appropriate measures for its implementation and development. On September 29, 2010, the Subcommittee Covenant of State for Health presented at the Congress of Deputies "Draft Final Recommendations" to achieve the Covenant, recommendations that included references to funding, the copayment, the universalization of health as non-contributory and subjective right , the quality and safety of the system, planning, management, the care coordination, human resources, the portfolio of services, drug policy, participation, primary care and public health, special schemes and research. Unfortunately
the Covenant has not been possible, and I can confirm that the associations of patients that I am part, has been disappointed, because the Pact for Health should have been reached if necessary, and not understand the interest, probably legitimate, which have caused a lack of agreement. That was not what I expected, wanted and deserved the associations of patients. This National Health System and its future sustainability, demanded a greater responsibility than they have shown those who should have come to the Covenant and they should have found the formula to make it happen.
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