The Canary Islands’ Health Minister, Esther Monzón, presented a budget of €5.245 billion for the regional health department and the Canary Health Service (SCS) for 2027 during a session at the regional parliament on Thursday. This marks an 8.53% increase compared to 2026.
Monzón highlighted a steady rise in healthcare investment over recent years, with a €1.452 billion increase from 2023, equating to a 38.3% rise. She described the budget as rigorous and dedicated to strengthening public health services, noting that her department accounts for 39.7% of the consolidated non-financial budget for the autonomous community.
The majority of the budget, 95.74%, will be allocated directly to public health services, aimed at improving patient care in health centres and hospitals, enhancing public health strategies, and developing human resources and research policies. The budget also includes plans to boost diagnostic capabilities by introducing new infrastructure and equipment.
Funding for human resources will rise by 9.6% to €2.873 billion, an increase of €253 million over the previous year. This allocation includes a planned 4.5% wage increase for 2027 and provisions for career advancements for all staff. Monzón noted this would support retention strategies by hiring newly graduated resident doctors, expecting to add at least 300 more in 2027 following the 800 recruited during the current term.
Next year, strategies for digital health will receive a boost, aiming to modernise the system and improve accessibility across the territory. Monzón emphasised the ongoing effort to reduce waiting lists, which have improved since 2023, placing the Canary Islands ahead of the national average for surgical wait times.
A key allocation is for hospital care, which will see funding of €3.344 billion, an increase of €259.3 million or 8.4% from 2026. The specific allocation for the “Active Plan” to reduce waiting lists will total €31.4 million, a 10.7% rise from the current budget.
The budget for primary care will increase by 11.2% to €1.655 billion, representing 31.5% of the total for 2027. Public health strategy funding will rise to €43.6 million, a 3.8% increase, dedicated to various initiatives including vaccine campaigns and childhood obesity prevention.
The General Directorate of Transfusion and Hemotherapy will receive €22.7 million to enhance mobile and fixed donation services.
Monzón also outlined specific allocations for several health strategies: €43.7 million for rare and neurodegenerative diseases (including €42.5 million for orphan drugs), €3.9 million for youth mental health, €3.1 million for early intervention centres, and €21.4 million for vaccination campaigns.
Investment in infrastructure and equipment across the islands is set at €142.2 million, addressing planned health projects and enhancing diagnostic capabilities for cancer treatment. Key projects include the installation of a cyclotron and radiopharmacy unit at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands, and new facilities at the Dr. Negrín Hospital for advanced therapies.
In education and research, the budget allocates €95.4 million for training SCS personnel and €3.2 million for health research. Additionally, €3.061 million will be directed to the Health Research Institute to fortify research within the SCS. The School of Health and Social Services of the Canary Islands will receive €479,110 for further training of healthcare professionals.
