Andalusia's public health system has experienced an unprecedented turnaround since 2019. In just six years, the healthcare system has added almost 28.000 more professionals, reaching a total workforce of nearly 130.000. Of these, 15.000 correspond to doctors and nurses, which demonstrates the drive of Juanma Moreno's government to recover and strengthen a structure that was severely weakened by the cuts of the previous socialist government.
According to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, Doctors exceed 30.000 for the first time, with an increase of 6.748 professionals compared to 2018. For its part, The number of nurses has grown by 29,3%, which translates into 8.407 new members since the popular legislature began.
Historic investment in Andalusian public health
Along with the reinforcement of personnel, the The Andalusian government has boosted healthcare investment.Per capita spending has increased by 45,3%, from €1.214 in 2018 to €1.765 in 2024. This is in addition to a 55% increase in the total budget, which has grown by more than €5.400 billion.
Also Pharmaceutical spending on prescriptions has increased by 48,6%, reaching €2.480 billion last year. At the same time, the percentage allocated to healthcare agreements with private entities has decreased, from 4,19% in 2018 to 3,7% currently.
"The goal is clear: more public healthcare, more professionals, more investment, and less dependence on private healthcare.", underline sources from the Government of Andalusia.
More health centers and hospitals throughout Andalusia
Another key to change has been the expansion of healthcare infrastructure. Since 2019, 69 new health facilities have been created, between them:
-
25 Early Childhood Care centers
-
18 health centers
-
9 offices
-
7 hospitals and 5 day hospitals
-
5 new emergency areas
Among them, the most notable are: Maternal and Child Hospital of Almería, the hospitals of La Janda (Cádiz), Palma del Río (Córdoba), Cazorla (Jaén), Muñoz Cariñanos (Seville), or health centers of Gibraleón (Huelva), San Pedro de Alcántara (Málaga) y Golden Ball in Granada.
Even the number of hospital beds has increased slightly, reaching 15.090 available throughout the region.
Andalusian public health: Reduction of waiting lists and improvement of care
One of the most sensitive issues for citizens has always been the waiting list. In this regard, The Andalusian Government has managed to reduce both the volume of patients and surgical delay times.On March 7, 2025, there were 18.380 fewer people on the waiting list for surgery than in December of the previous year, and Late arrivals have been halved.
Furthermore, The average surgical waiting time has dropped from 214 to 120 days, which means three months less waiting time. As for consultations with specialists, The average term has decreased from 176 to 150 days, an improvement that, although insufficient, marks a positive trend.
It is worth remembering that in 2019 More than 540.000 patients emerged who were not on the official lists inherited from the PSOE., which demonstrates the transparency and reorganization efforts carried out by Juanma Moreno's government.
72-hour plan: almost immediate contact with the patient
One of the most recent measures to improve accessibility has been the so-called 72-hour plan, which guarantees contact with patients who do not obtain an appointment at their health center within that period. Since its implementation in December 2024 and its consolidation in February 2025, The system has handled almost 200.000 calls, responding to 99% of requests.
65,1% of users opted for telephone consultations, while 34,6% preferred in-person care. The Ministry has also promoted continuity of care, with a growth of 72,4% in a single year: from 4.335 performances in January 2024 to 7.475 in January 2025.
More consultations and more diagnostic tests
The number of consultations also reflects the strengthening of the Andalusian public health. In 2024 they were attended to 2,15 million more patients than in 2018, reaching 15,3 million between Primary Care, interconsultations and successive consultations.
Nursing activity has increased by 50,6%., rising from 2,3 million to more than 3,5 million annual consultations. Diagnostic tests have also increased, with 1.032.000 more performed in 2024 than in 2018. In total, 14,3 million tests were performed, compared to 12,8 million during the last year of the Socialist administration.
Reversing the “health disaster” inherited from the PSOE
Juanma Moreno's Executive does not hesitate to point out that The serious structural problems of Andalusian public health have their origins in the cuts implemented by the PSOE. between 2010 and 2018, under the management of María Jesús MonteroDuring that period:
-
They were cut 1.590 billion euros in healthcare.
-
They got lost 7.773 healthcare professionals.
-
Health workers' salaries were reduced by 4% average.
-
They closed 800 hospital beds.
Furthermore, only 50% of the resident physicians who completed their training remained in Andalusia, compared to 76% today. "The disaster was total," conclude from the Andalusian Government.
