The Minister of Health, Mónica García, enters, after 20 years of Spanish absence, as a representative of the Executive Committee of WHO Europe, from where she intends to promote primary care, highlight the importance of climate change for health and promote equity of health. genre in this area.
<img width="1170" height="752" class="attachment-newpress-featured-large size-newpress-featured-large wp-post-image lazyload" alt="La OMS elige a Mónica García como representante de Europa en su órgano de gobernanza" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" data-attachment-id="348162" data-permalink="https://efesalud.com/la-ministra-de-sanidad-monica-garcia-dispuesta-a-revisar-el-copago/entrevista-con-la-ministra-de-sanidad-monica-garcia/" data-orig-file="https://efesalud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/monicagarciaentrevista.jpg" data-orig-size="1920,1280" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"EFE","camera":"","caption":"MADRID, 18/05/2024.- La ministra de Sanidad, Mu00f3nica Garcu00eda, sigue descubriendo mu00e1s de sus cartas para "recuperar el orgullo" de la sanidad pu00fablica: ademu00e1s de devolverle la universalidad o limitar la gestiu00f3n privada, la ministra de Sanidad estu00e1 decidida a revisar los copagos, tambiu00e9n los farmacu00e9uticos, porque "hay gente que no se puede permitir sus fu00e1rmacos". EFE/Ballesteros","created_timestamp":"1715962124","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Entrevista con la ministra de Sanidad, Mu00f3nica Garcu00eda","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="entrevista monica garcia" data-image-description="
Mónica García, Minister of Health
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The Minister of Health, Mónica García, during an interview with EFE/Ballesteros
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The Minister of Health, Mónica García, during an interview with EFE/Ballesteros
The nomination of Mónica García, who had presented her candidacy in May, to the WHO, took place on October 30, although, “out of respect for the situation” that was being experienced in the areas affected by the dana, the Ministry preferred not to make it public, he said in a press release issued this Thursday.
From this position at the WHO, Mónica García aspires to promote on a global level what she already promotes from the Ministry: “Primary care as the heart of health systems, taking care of professionals, underlining the importance of climate change for health, promoting gender equality in health and work against childhood obesity through sport, healthy eating and the social determinants of health”.
The Executive Board of the World Health Organization is made up of 34 technically qualified people in the field of health, each appointed by a member state and authorized to do so by the World Health Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the WHO. The mandate, which will last three years, will extend from 2025 to 2028.
The 34 current members are mostly senior officials from the Ministries of Health or Sanitation of 7 African countries: Cameroon, Comoros, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Senegal, Togo and Zimbabwe; six other Americans -Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, United States and Costa Rica-; and three from Southeast Asia: Maldives, North Korea and Thailand.
From Europe they come from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Israel, Norway, Poland, Moldova, Switzerland and Ukraine; from the eastern Mediterranean area, Morocco, Lebanon, Somalia and Yemen and, from the western Pacific, from Australia, China, Brunei, Micronesia and South Korea.
Mónica García on the Executive Committee of WHO Europe
This body, to which Mónica García belongs, holds two annual meetings. The first, larger one takes place in January and sets the agenda and votes on the resolutions that are presented to the Health Assembly, the most important decision-making body of the Health Assembly. WHOwhose function is to establish public health policies at a global level, which includes setting priorities, directing strategies and approving work programs.
The assembly meets annually in Geneva, with the participation of delegations from all WHO member states, and issues crucial to global health are discussed at these meetings.
Among his responsibilities are electing the WHO Director-General, overseeing the organization’s finances, and approving the budget that enables the execution of public health programs and projects.
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WHO
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EFE/EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI
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What are Mónica García’s primary goals in her role as the WHO Europe Representative?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Mónica García, Minister of Health & WHO Europe Representative
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good afternoon, Minister García. Thank you for joining us today. Your recent appointment to the Executive Committee of WHO Europe marks a significant milestone for Spain after two decades. What are your primary goals in this new role?
Mónica García (MG): Thank you for having me. I’m honored to represent Spain on such a crucial platform. My primary goals include promoting primary health care as the backbone of health systems, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change’s impact on health, and advocating for gender equity in health access. Additionally, I aim to strategize initiatives against childhood obesity through sports and healthy eating.
TNE: Those are indeed pressing issues. Could you elaborate on how you plan to tackle the intersection between climate change and health?
MG: Absolutely. Climate change poses a severe threat to public health, causing a rise in vector-borne diseases, respiratory illnesses from increased pollution, and heat-related conditions. From my position, I intend to stress the importance of integrating climate action into health policies, particularly in primary care settings. We need to prepare our health systems to be resilient in the face of climate-related challenges.
TNE: You also mentioned a commitment to promoting gender equity in health. Why is this a priority for you?
MG: Gender equity in health is vital because it addresses the social determinants that affect health outcomes for different genders. Women, for instance, bear a disproportionate burden in accessing health care, often due to economic barriers or lack of targeted services. My role will involve working to create policies that ensure equitable access to health resources, thus fostering a healthier society overall.
TNE: It sounds like you have a comprehensive vision. Moving on to a different topic, what response have you received since your nomination, especially given the challenging context in which it was announced?
MG: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. People recognize the need for a holistic approach to health that goes beyond clinical care. However, I acknowledge the sensitivity of current events and want to assure the public that their health concerns are at the forefront of my efforts. The timing may have been challenging, but it reinforces the urgency of our work.
TNE: As you take on this role, how do you plan to balance national responsibilities with your commitments to the WHO?
MG: It is undoubtedly a challenge, but my experience as Spain’s Minister of Health has equipped me to navigate this dual responsibility. I aim to foster collaborations between national initiatives and global health strategies, ensuring that our efforts at WHO resonate back into effective practices at home.
TNE: Your mandate at WHO will last from 2025 to 2028. What legacy do you hope to build during your time in this position?
MG: I hope to lay a foundation for sustainable health practices that prioritize primary care, advocate for climate health interventions, and enhance gender equality efforts. Ultimately, I want to leave behind a stronger health system that is more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to future challenges.
TNE: Thank you, Minister García. It’s inspiring to hear your vision for health in both Spain and across Europe. We wish you the best in your endeavors at WHO.
MG: Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. I believe that together, we can make substantial progress in health reform and equity on a global scale.