The Minister of Health, Manel Balcells, presided this Tuesday over the constitution of the work committee to promote the transfer of the management of the Sant Hospital Foundation to a publicly owned company.
This process, which leaves out the Bishopric of Urgell, is scheduled to end in 2025. The Seu d'Urgell City Council will continue to participate.
In the meeting, the first of the commission, representatives of the Fundació Sant Hospital and the Department of Health participated.
This change of ownership will be prior to the entry of the new hospital in the capital of Alt Urgell, which is expected to come into operation in 2029. It will be regional in scope and with more services than the current one offers right now.
Balcells explained that this change in management model was necessary for different reasons. He has spoken of the "difficult sustainability" of the hospital and has said that it needs "an additional boost."
The councilor has also referred to the "need" for a new regional hospital with more services and greater coordination with Andorra. The transfer of management also responds to the need to optimize public resources.
The transfer will also offer the opportunity to reorganize the public health services that the foundation provides to the population of Alt Urgell and its area of influence, to some 20,400 people.
Balcells has stated that this process, agreed upon and very well worked on by both parties, "must guarantee the present and future of the center, which is moving towards the new Regional Hospital of Alt Urgell."
The change will guarantee at all times the continuity of the public service and of the professionals who work at the Fundació Sant Hospital, as well as the integration of current devices and equipment.
