«It is time to embrace and strengthen scientific refuges, to create ecosystems where researching and innovating can be done freely,» highlighted García during the inauguration of the ‘Equity in Health and Marmot Principles’ meeting, held at the Ministry of Health.
In the presentation of Professor Michael Marmot, García stated that inequality is not a matter of «those at the extremes of the ladder,» but rather «affects everyone.» «More unequal societies result in poorer health for all individuals,» she pointed out.
At this point, García lamented the current global political crisis, which, in her opinion, has led to times of «regression, involution, and disdain,» as well as «denial of scientific evidence.» The minister emphasized that ‘The Lancet’ magazine warned a few days ago about the health consequences of the Trump Administration’s decisions.
«These decisions undermine science, weaken the protection of the most vulnerable populations, and erode decades of progress in public health,» García declared, noting that «when knowledge is scorned and when denialism and fear are fed, the consequences are global and tangible.»
In this regard, the minister recalled that the State Public Health Agency declined last week in the Congress of Deputies due to a «tactical and vindictive vision of politics.» However, she stated that the Ministry will bring the Agency back to Congress since it is «one of the fundamental pillars» that will protect the population in the future.
«SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH GLASSES»
Additionally, García explained that «in every public policy» promoted by the Ministry of Health, the «social determinants of health glasses» are present. «At the core of our National Health System lies a deep conviction. Only by addressing the structural causes of inequality is it possible to build a healthcare system,» she added.
Furthermore, García pointed out that, in the face of social inequality, the Ministry of Health has strengthened Primary Care with the new Primary Care Plan 2025-2027.
«If we were told that there is a vaccine that solves 85 percent of the most common health problems and reduces mortality by 20 percent, we would be paying exorbitant prices for that medicine. Well, that’s our Primary Care, which is the envy of the world,» she emphasized.
«INEQUALITY PASSES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION»
During his speech, Professor Michael Marmot explained how the social determinants of health influence the population’s health status. «I work on the general hypothesis that a population’s health tells us a lot about how well that society functions and how well it meets the needs of its citizens. And if health does not improve, society is not improving, and if health problems increase, so do inequalities,» highlighted Marmot.
Likewise, the expert assured that inequality «passes from generation to generation.» «All my children are university graduates, and they tell me that their friends, also university graduates, cannot afford to pay the rent in London unless their parents help them. Being a highly educated university graduate does not help you live unless you have help from your parents,» he explained.
«Housing is a problem. Incomes and salaries are a problem. All of this has an impact on health. You have worse health because of this,» Marmot emphasized.
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