Ministry of Health (Spain)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality (Spanish
: Ministerio de Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad)
is the ministry
of the Government of Spain responsible for proposing and implementing the Government's guidelines on health policy, planning and health care and consumer products as well as on Social Affairs (Social Cohesion and Inclusion, Family, Children, Dependent and Disabled) and distributing the general state budget among its agencies.
The ministry is headquartered in the Paseo del Prado
in Madrid
, opposite the Prado Museum.
, and the powers of the Secretariat of Social Security
.
References can be found to the action of Government in public health and welfare in the nineteenth century. A Royal Decree of 9 November 1832 created a Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which included powers over "the field of health with the infirmaries, water and mineral baths" and "charitable institutions".
A further Royal Decree of March 10th 1847, created a Department of Health, one of six that made up what is now the Ministry of the Interior.
State powers in this area remained with this department until 1933, when the Secretariat of Health and Welfare was transferred to the Ministry of Labour, which then became known as the Ministry of Labour and Health.
On November 4th 1936, the Ministry of Health and Welfare was created, with a woman holding a cabinet
portfolio for the first time in the history of Spain: Federica Montseny
.
This ministry was short-lived. When the Prime Minister of the Republic
, Juan Negrín
, replaced Francisco Largo Caballero
the ministry was abolished and absorbed into the Ministry of Labour, once again under a decree of July 5 1937. After the Spanish Civil War
, the responsibility returned to the Ministry of the Interior until 1977.
For a short period between February and November 1981, Health was once again merged with Labour. Royal Decree 2823 of 1981, restored it to full ministerial rank but this time without social security which remained with the Labour ministry. With the victory of the People's Party
in the elections of 1996
, Jose Manuel Romay Beccaria was appointed Minister of Health and Consumer Afffairs, a position he held throughout the Sixth Legislature. Under his direction was created in 1997, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios). In the Seventh Legislature Celia Villalobos
became minister (2000-2002) and achieved notoriety by her handling mad cow disease. She was succeeded by Ana Pastor Julián (2002-2004). The mad cow crisis precipitated the creation, under Law 11/2001, of the Spanish Food Safety Agency (Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición, and from 2007: Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición).
At the beginning of the eighth legislature Elena Salgado
became minister (2004-7), but the National Plan on Drugs (Plan Nacional sobre Drogas) was shifted to the Ministry of the Interior (2004). On 6 July 2007, Bernat Soria (2007-9), a scientist by background, succeeded her. In the current (ninth) legislature Soria was re-appointed in 2008, and succeeded by Trinidad Jiménez
(2009-10) following a cabinet shuffle. Under Jiménez Social Policy was returned to the health portfolio, including the Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales), previously under Education. The current minister, since October 2010, is Leire Pajín
to whose duties were added responsibility for Equality issues, previously under a separate ministry of its own, and the Institute for Women (Instituto de la Mujer), and the Institute for Youth(Instituto de la Juventud).
(1) Ministry of Health and Social Security
(2) Ministry of Work, Health and Social Security
(3) Ministry of Health and Consumers
(4) Ministry of Health and Social Policies
(5) Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Ministerio de Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad)
is the ministry
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of the Government of Spain responsible for proposing and implementing the Government's guidelines on health policy, planning and health care and consumer products as well as on Social Affairs (Social Cohesion and Inclusion, Family, Children, Dependent and Disabled) and distributing the general state budget among its agencies.
The ministry is headquartered in the Paseo del Prado
Paseo del Prado
The Paseo del Prado is one of the main boulevards in Madrid, Spain. It runs north-south between the Plaza de Cibeles and the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V , with the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo lying approximately in the middle...
in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, opposite the Prado Museum.
Early period
The current Ministry was created in the Constituent Legislature in 1977, integrating responsibilities for Health that were hitherto managed by the Ministry of the InteriorMinistry of the Interior (Spain)
The Ministry of Interior of Spain which historically could be known as Ministerio de la Gobernación, Ministerio del Orden Público, Ministerio del Interior y la Gobernación or Ministerio del Interior y Justicia is the executive branch responsible for policing, national security, and immigration...
, and the powers of the Secretariat of Social Security
Social Security in Spain
The Social Security system in Spain is its principal system of social protection. The concept of Social Security first appeared in Spain in 1883 under the Committee for Social Reform, it was expanded several times during the twentieth century and finally the right to social security was enshrined...
.
References can be found to the action of Government in public health and welfare in the nineteenth century. A Royal Decree of 9 November 1832 created a Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which included powers over "the field of health with the infirmaries, water and mineral baths" and "charitable institutions".
A further Royal Decree of March 10th 1847, created a Department of Health, one of six that made up what is now the Ministry of the Interior.
State powers in this area remained with this department until 1933, when the Secretariat of Health and Welfare was transferred to the Ministry of Labour, which then became known as the Ministry of Labour and Health.
On November 4th 1936, the Ministry of Health and Welfare was created, with a woman holding a cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
portfolio for the first time in the history of Spain: Federica Montseny
Federica Montseny
Federica Montseny i Mañé was a Spanish anarchist, intellectual and Minister of Health during the social revolution that occurred in Spain parallel to the Civil War...
.
This ministry was short-lived. When the Prime Minister of the Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
, Juan Negrín
Juan Negrín
Juan Negrín y López was a Spanish politician and physician.-Early years:Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Negrín came from a religious middle-class family...
, replaced Francisco Largo Caballero
Francisco Largo Caballero
Francisco Largo Caballero was a Spanish politician and trade unionist. He was one of the historic leaders of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and of the Workers' General Union...
the ministry was abolished and absorbed into the Ministry of Labour, once again under a decree of July 5 1937. After the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, the responsibility returned to the Ministry of the Interior until 1977.
Constituent legislature 1977 -
Royal Decree 1558 of July 4 1977 established the ministry in its current form, including responsibility for Social Security. Staffing consisted of two secretariats (the Department and Health), a Technical Secretariat and six Directorates: Staff, Management and Finance, Benefits, Social Services Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Management and Public Health and Veterinary Public Health.For a short period between February and November 1981, Health was once again merged with Labour. Royal Decree 2823 of 1981, restored it to full ministerial rank but this time without social security which remained with the Labour ministry. With the victory of the People's Party
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
in the elections of 1996
Spanish general election, 1996
General elections were held in Spain on March 3, 1996. The Prime Minister Felipe González of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party lost the elections to Partido Popular and their leader José María Aznar....
, Jose Manuel Romay Beccaria was appointed Minister of Health and Consumer Afffairs, a position he held throughout the Sixth Legislature. Under his direction was created in 1997, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios). In the Seventh Legislature Celia Villalobos
Celia Villalobos
Celia Villalobos Talero is a Spanish politician.She was the mayor of Málaga from 1995 to 2000, when she joined José María Aznar's cabinet as the minister of food and health from 2000 to 2002. Her role at this ministry was controversial mainly due to a speech she gave during the concern over...
became minister (2000-2002) and achieved notoriety by her handling mad cow disease. She was succeeded by Ana Pastor Julián (2002-2004). The mad cow crisis precipitated the creation, under Law 11/2001, of the Spanish Food Safety Agency (Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición, and from 2007: Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición).
At the beginning of the eighth legislature Elena Salgado
Elena Salgado
Elena Salgado Méndez is a Spanish politician currently serving as the First Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain, in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero...
became minister (2004-7), but the National Plan on Drugs (Plan Nacional sobre Drogas) was shifted to the Ministry of the Interior (2004). On 6 July 2007, Bernat Soria (2007-9), a scientist by background, succeeded her. In the current (ninth) legislature Soria was re-appointed in 2008, and succeeded by Trinidad Jiménez
Trinidad Jiménez
Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician and is currently Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister....
(2009-10) following a cabinet shuffle. Under Jiménez Social Policy was returned to the health portfolio, including the Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales), previously under Education. The current minister, since October 2010, is Leire Pajín
Leire Pajín
Leire Pajín Iraola is a Spanish socialist politician and the current Minister of Health, Equality and Social Policy in the cabinet led by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero....
to whose duties were added responsibility for Equality issues, previously under a separate ministry of its own, and the Institute for Women (Instituto de la Mujer), and the Institute for Youth(Instituto de la Juventud).
List of Ministers of Health
| Period | Legislative | Start | End | Name | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign of Juan Carlos I (1975-) |
|||||
| Constituent Legislature (1977 - 1979) | 4 July of 1977 | 5 April of 1979 | Enrique Sánchez de León (1) | UCD UCD -Education:*University of California, Davis*University College Dublin, Irish university**University College Dublin A.F.C., the university's association football club**University College Dublin RFC, the university's rugby union club... |
|
| I Legislature (1979 - 1982) | 5 April of 1979 | 8 September of 1980 | Juan Rovira Tarazona (1) | UCD UCD -Education:*University of California, Davis*University College Dublin, Irish university**University College Dublin A.F.C., the university's association football club**University College Dublin RFC, the university's rugby union club... |
|
| 8 September of 1980 | 26 February of 1981 | Alberto Oliart Saussol (1) | UCD UCD -Education:*University of California, Davis*University College Dublin, Irish university**University College Dublin A.F.C., the university's association football club**University College Dublin RFC, the university's rugby union club... |
||
| 26 February of 1981 | 1 December of 1981 | Jesús Sancho Rof (2) | UCD UCD -Education:*University of California, Davis*University College Dublin, Irish university**University College Dublin A.F.C., the university's association football club**University College Dublin RFC, the university's rugby union club... |
||
| 1 December of 1981 | 2 December of 1982 | Manuel Núñez Pérez (3) | UCD UCD -Education:*University of California, Davis*University College Dublin, Irish university**University College Dublin A.F.C., the university's association football club**University College Dublin RFC, the university's rugby union club... |
||
| II Legislature (1982 - 1986) | 2 December of 1982 | 25 July of 1986 | Ernest Lluch Martín (3) | PSOE | |
| III Legislature (1986-1989) | 25 July of 1986 | 7 December of 1989 | Julián García Vargas (3) | PSOE | |
| IV Legislature (1989-1993) | 7 December of 1989 | 12 March of 1991 | Julián García Vargas (3) | PSOE | |
| 13 March of 1991 | 14 January of 1992 | Julián García Valverof (3) | PSOE | ||
| 14 January of 1992 | 13 July of 1993 | José Antonio Griñán Martínez (3) | PSOE | ||
| V Legislature (1993-1996) | 13 July of 1993 | 4 May of 1996 | Ángeles Amador Millán (3) | PSOE | |
| VI Legislature (1996-2000) | 5 July of 1996 | 27 April of 2000 | José Manuel RoMay Beccaría (3) | PP PP PP, pp, Pp, or Pp may refer to:- Places :* Perry Park, any of several places in Australia, England, or the United States* Phi Phi Islands, in Thailand* Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia... |
|
| VII Legislature (2000-2004) | 27 April of 2000 | 9 July of 2002 | Celia Villalobos Talero (3) | PP PP PP, pp, Pp, or Pp may refer to:- Places :* Perry Park, any of several places in Australia, England, or the United States* Phi Phi Islands, in Thailand* Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia... |
|
| 9 July of 2002 | 17 April of 2004 | Ana María Pastor Julián (3) | PP PP PP, pp, Pp, or Pp may refer to:- Places :* Perry Park, any of several places in Australia, England, or the United States* Phi Phi Islands, in Thailand* Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia... |
||
| VIII Legislature (2004-2008) | 18 April of 2004 | 6 July of 2007 | Elena Salgado Ménofz (3) | PSOE | |
| 6 July of 2007 | 7 April of 2009 | Bernat Soria Escoms (3) | PSOE | ||
| IX Legislature (2008-2012) | 7 April of 2009 | 20 October of 2010 | Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera (4) | PSOE | |
| 20 October of 2010 | actualidad | Leire Pajín Iraola (5) | PSOE |
(1) Ministry of Health and Social Security
(2) Ministry of Work, Health and Social Security
(3) Ministry of Health and Consumers
(4) Ministry of Health and Social Policies
(5) Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality
See also
- History of SpainHistory of SpainThe history of Spain involves all the other peoples and nations within the Iberian peninsula formerly known as Hispania, and includes still today the nations of Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain...
- Politics of SpainPolitics of SpainThe politics of Spain take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy, whereby the Monarch is the Head of State and the President of the Government is the head of government in a multi-party system. Executive power is vested in the government...
- Cabinet of Spain
- List of Spain-related topics