Fuerteventura Health Authority unveils statistics to the island's health council
The Fuerteventura Health Area, under the Canary Islands Health Department, held the Island Health Council meeting on Wednesday, October 1. The council is the highest participatory body for groups linked to the health sector.
The meeting was attended by:
- Sebastián Fuentes, Director General of Economic Resources of the SCS
- María Jesús López Neira, General Secretary of the SCS
- Tomás Pérez, Director of the Fuerteventura Health Area
- María Luisa Naranjo, Manager of Fuerteventura Health Services
- Jesús Ulises Cabrera, Secretary of the Island Health Council
During the session the previous council’s minutes were approved and the 2024 activity report of the Area’s Directorate and the Health Services Management was presented. The discussion also covered the development of the new tele‑dermatology project launched last year and, among other matters, an update on the draft Canary Islands Health Plan 2026‑2031.
Primary Care Figures
In total, 835,229 consultations were recorded in the island’s health centres in 2024, broken down as follows:
- Family medicine: 398,658
- Pediatrics: 71,128
- Nursing: 290,022
- Midwifery: 20,445
- Social work: 9,085
- Psychology: 4,370
Additional services recorded:
- Physiotherapy: 21,905 consultations
- Speech therapy: 6,203
- Occupational therapy: 1,493
- Oral health unit: 11,920
More than 100,000 diagnostic tests—including electrocardiograms and retinal imaging—were performed in the health centres during the year.
Specialized Activity
Hospital care figures for 2024:
- Consultations at the General Hospital of Fuerteventura: 164,868
- Surgical interventions: 7,353
- Admissions: 6,643
- Emergency department visits: 45,990
The tele‑dermatology project, launched in July 2024, generated 5,307 inter‑consultations.
Canary Islands Health Plan 2026‑2031
The council was briefed on the progress of the draft health plan, now in the drafting stage and entering a participatory process. Coordination is handled by the Support Unit of the Canary Health Service Directorate, with assistance from a Technical Advisory Committee composed of multidisciplinary SCS professionals. Input will also come from the Health Councils of all island health areas.
Health plans are strategic tools that set priorities, action lines, and goals for health promotion, disease prevention, and health‑care delivery. The 2026‑2031 plan is built around two pillars:
- Health in All Policies – promoting inter‑sectoral collaboration and community health.
- Improving Health Outcomes – focusing on high‑impact health issues and cost‑effective actions.
The plan will be guided by the values of equity, efficiency, evidence‑based practice, and healthy communities, aiming for person‑centred care across multiple dimensions.
Five Thematic Areas
The plan will be organized into five thematic blocks, each containing 48 priority lines to be addressed over the plan’s duration. In total, 140 specific objectives and 255 evaluation indicators will be defined. The blocks correspond to:
- Promotion and Protection of Health / Disease Prevention
- Improvement of Services and Health Outcomes
- Healthy Aging and Chronic Care
- Inter‑sectorality
- Cross‑cutting Perspective
Health Council
The Health Council is a citizen participation body that brings together members of the Canary Health Service, representatives of the island council, municipal authorities, professional colleges, patient associations, unions, and neighborhood groups from Fuerteventura.
As a collegial entity, it provides advice and consultation on health activities within its jurisdiction. Established under the Canary Islands Health Organization Law, the council ensures the involvement of various administrations and social agents in health activities, aligning them with regulations and the population’s social needs.