The Primary and Community Care Management of Terres de l'Ebre (GAPiCTE) has started a new project, '+Actius: Administrative Staff as Rural Community Health Agents', in the Terra Alta and Ribera d'Ebre regions. This initiative, funded by the Ministry of Health through the MAPyC 2025 Funds, will run until 31 December 2026.
Ester Gavaldà, manager of Primary and Community Care for Terres de l'Ebre, said the project aims to "promote more equitable and accessible care, especially in rural settings, where there are often more barriers to accessing services." She added, "we want to bring health administration closer to citizens and make their daily lives easier, while also strengthening connections with local resources."
Mobile Administrative Unit to Boost Access
The project includes creating a mobile administrative unit. This unit will travel to local health centres in Terra Alta and Ribera d'Ebre. Its goal is to bring services closer to residents, particularly in towns with greater access difficulties, thereby helping to improve fairness in care.
The initiative targets people living in rural areas. It pays special attention to those over 65, individuals with low digital literacy, people at risk of social isolation, and migrant populations who struggle to access standard healthcare channels.
Administrative staff will offer a full range of services. These include processing healthcare benefits and other administrative tasks. They will also provide digital support for tools such as La Meva Salut (My Health), eConsulta, and other online portals. Additionally, they will offer community guidance on local resources, services, and organisations.
Collaboration and Phased Rollout
Collaboration with regional councils and local councils is a key part of the project's success. The aim is to work closely with various local groups to ensure effective implementation tailored to each town.
The rollout is happening in three stages. The first stage, which involved selecting and hiring staff, is complete. GAPiCTE is currently in the training and coordination phase. The operational phase will start in the coming days, with mobile routes to local health centres, digital workshops, and community activities.
