The President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and the Minister of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands have announced the commencement of construction for a new health center, along with various enhancements to the island’s healthcare infrastructure.
Advancements in Healthcare Infrastructure
The plans for the construction of the Corralejo II Health Center are nearing the bidding phase, which is expected to enable work to commence before the summer of 2026. This promising news was shared during a meeting involving Lola García, the President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Esther Monzón, the Minister of Health for the Government of the Canary Islands, representatives from the Fuerteventura Health Area, and local town hall officials. The establishment of this center responds to a long-standing community need, particularly as the island continues to experience demographic growth.
This ambitious health center project is part of a collaborative effort between the Cabildo, the Government of the Canary Islands, and local municipalities, collectively driving a major infrastructure program valued at 3.4 million euros. The initiative aims to ensure that primary healthcare resources are accessible across all municipalities on the island, thereby enhancing overall community health and wellbeing.
Improvements in Medical Transportation and Personnel
In addition to the new health center, steps are also being taken to award the project for the La Lajita Healthcare Access Center (CAE), categorized as an urgent necessity to enhance healthcare services in southern Fuerteventura. In this framework, Lola García emphasized the imminent operation of the medicalized helicopter based in Fuerteventura, slated to become operational by the end of March. This development is anticipated to significantly improve urgent medical transport, complemented by the addition of two new life-support ambulances, thereby upgrading the emergency response system.
With respect to healthcare personnel, Minister Esther Monzón pointed out the addition of 66 new professionals to the health services in Fuerteventura since June 2023. Approximately half of these new hires are specialists across various medical fields. This bolstering of the workforce has directly contributed to a 15% reduction in surgical waitlists, with patient wait times for procedures dropping from eighty days to an encouraging 53 days.
Future Projects and Enhancements in Medical Care
This meeting also spotlighted the bidding process for the La Lajita CAE project, an effort designed to meet the historical demands of the Fuerteventura population. The center aims to bring specialized healthcare services closer to residents in the southern region of the island. Additionally, the deployment of a third medicalized helicopter in the Archipelago, which will also serve Lanzarote and La Graciosa, was highlighted as a significant advancement towards strengthening urgent medical transport services across the autonomous community.
Officials later visited the General Hospital of Fuerteventura, where the Home Hospitalization Unit (HADO) has been successfully implemented, already serving 13 patients. This innovative service allows patients to receive medical care in the comfort of their homes, equivalent to that available in a hospital setting. This initiative reflects the authorities’ commitment to enhancing the quality of healthcare services available to the island’s inhabitants.
