Minister Marcos Ortuño made his debut this Thursday as Executive spokesman and did so by announcing an investment of 4 million euros by the Ministry of Tourism, a department he also heads, whose main objective is to promote the creation of new air routes with the Murcia Regional International Airport, in addition to consolidating the existing currently operating. This investment, which will be made through the Murcia Regional Tourism Institute, is extendable for two years and means multiplying the 10 financial resources allocated for this purpose last year.

The action will consist of launching outstanding tourism promotion stunts, with marketing and co-marketing campaigns at major peninsula airports which act as hubs for major airlines, as well as in various national and international markets of particular interest to the Community.

In Spain, several airports that connect many airlines and where the Region will focus its promotion are Madrid and Barcelona Airports,​​as well as Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. On an international level, the priority is the UK, France and Italy, countries that want greater connectivity.

The aim of this promotional action is to drive tourist demand at these points, to attract tourists to Regional International Airports, following the model that has been used by other autonomous communities to promote the adoption of new airlines. On the other hand, Ortuño pointed out that the Community has still not received a response from the Ministry of Transport on the request made to declare the air link with Madrid a Public Service Obligation, which “will facilitate the creation of the long-awaited route with the capital”. .

Ratify the agreement to strengthen Primary Care

On the other hand, the Governing Council ratified this Thursday the agreement of the Public Health Council November 25, 2022, which was adopted to strengthen Primary Care staff and stop strikes demanded by doctors. The agreement envisages expanding the Murcian Health Service workforce by 2023 with the creation of 213 new positions this year, 123 of which are Primary compliant, 111 of which are family doctors and 12 are pediatricians. The remaining 90 correspond to 9 positions for midwives, 30 for nurses, 11 physiotherapists, 11 social workers, 11 nursing assistants and 18 administrative assistants.

It should also be noted the establishment of a Primary Care directorate, as well as the assignment of complementary level 28 objectives to Primary Care team coordinators and those responsible for Primary Care teams. Likewise, the amount currently being received by professionals for implementing self-contracting programs was increased to reduce waiting lists.

In case of Emergencies and Health Emergencies, during 2023 SUAP La Flota in Murcia will be equipped with a double team to serve the population 24 hours a day, which means the creation of 4 positions for specialist doctors, 4 nurses, 4 paramedics and 3 technicians. In Lorca, a second SUAP will open in Santa Rosa de Lima in the coming months, while the San Cristóbal Health Center is under construction. The creation of a fourth SUAP is also planned in the Murcia metropolitan area.

Likewise, hard-to-cover positions were given economic incentives and the value of standby hours for resident personnel was increased. Among other measures, in Nursing, a Unit Supervisor position will be created in the afternoon shift of units which, due to their large volume of activity, are deemed essential to ensure their coordination and operation.