The new phase of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) will see the construction of 31 additional National Health Service (NHS) healthcare units and the refurbishment of 176 units, the Department of Health said today.
According to the Department of Health, the construction and refurbishment of a number of NHS primary care buildings enters a new phase with the publication of the second Notice of Application for funding under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).
With the publication of the second RRP funding application notice, funds are available for the construction of 31 new health centers and the refurbishment of 176 units, projects for which can now be submitted by municipalities and other beneficiary entities, the ministry said in a statement.
The 31 new health centers join the 52 new construction projects approved in the first RRP notice, launched in July 2022, and already being implemented on the ground, it said.
The RRP aims to build 100 new healthcare units by 2026, and more than €120 million has already been published and/or approved for new construction, corresponding to 81% of the total allocation earmarked for this measure, he said.
As far as renewals are concerned, the 176 projects planned in this second notice are in addition to the 132 projects previously approved.
In total, the RRP will enable the renovation or adaptation of 326 healthcare facilities, providing better local care, with facilities renovated and adapted in terms of energy efficiency, accessibility, safety and comfort.
“With this notice, this measure has published and/or approved 102 million euros, which represents 65% of the total amount entered in the RRP for renovations,” mentions the Ministry of Health.
“This impetus is complemented by structural measures such as accelerating the creation of Type B family health units and negotiations to enhance the careers of different professional groups, with the aim of attracting and retaining teams in the NHS, particularly younger ones,” it states.
Next month, says the Ministry, 300 new family doctors will take up their posts, continuing the drive to strengthen access to the family health team.
The RRP is a nationally applicable program, with an implementation period extending to 2026, which aims to implement reforms and investments to restore sustained economic growth after the pandemic.
“Healthcare is at the heart of the RRP, with a total budget planned of around 1.3 billion euros to strengthen areas such as primary healthcare, but also digital transition, integrated long-term care and palliative care, as well as mental health,” he explains.
