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Oct 24 - Connected Health Campaign Is 'Public Health Above All Else'

A joint statement issued by Felix Alvarez and Damian Broton as co-Heads of the Connected Health Team (a joint project by Equality Rights Group and ‘Stay Clean’) has welcomed the Chief Minister’s announcement in Parliament, on the occasion of the recent cabinet reshuffle, to the effect that he has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee to take up the work of studying possible changes to drugs policy in Gibraltar.

A statement continued: “This was a central recommendation submitted in our Connected Health Report to Government a few weeks ago, and it is a positive step forward to be congratulated. Because the central importance of managing drugs and sexual health in our Community is, above all else, a Public Health issue.

“Much work will undoubtedly need to go into seriously studying and discussing both our Report proposals and other thinking that needs to be considered in full. Whilst saddened to see Minister Cortes moving away from Health, we thank him for his support and for strongly recommending to Minister Costa the continuation of the work this Project commenced with Dr. Cortes on his watch. We therefore take the opportunity to enthusiastically welcome Minister Costa’s responsibilities in the new and widened Ministry for Health and Care, a broadening concept which we consider both apt and timely, since the long-standing issues of drugs and sexual health, separately or jointly, are squarely public health issues and it is of great importance they be fixed as such. 

“With similar eagerness, we look forward to continuing our on-going Connected Health talks with Minister Costa,” the communiqué continues.

“These questions only peripherally touch on equality issues, yet remain of primary concern on a civil and human rights front. Nonetheless, it is of maximum importance if we are to deal with these medical and public health matters with the seriousness they deserve, that we properly position their discussion and management within the unequivocal ambit of Ministries dealing with health and public health. It is only there that the professional support of well-established and solid expert medical teams can provide the depth and breadth of salient and long-lasting solutions to these questions necessary to support and assist other specialist players in the treatment and rehabilitation cycles.

“In the interest of this community and of ordinary citizens’ well-being, we cannot afford to sideline or sidetrack our determination to do battle with the real medical causes of these social questions. It is this in-depth focus that must lead to effective long-term law and policy.

“We therefore rightly congratulate the Chief Minister in properly pinpointing this important social and political task, and in enlarging the remit of the Ministry for Health to include Care. With Neil Costa heading, and Dr. Cortes maintaining a portfolio in Public Health, Connected Health has confidence we will be able to make objective, studied but sure progress, and we look forward to continue providing our knowledge, expertise and experience in these fields for the benefit of the community and of successful outcomes within progressive and effective legislative frameworks,” the statement ended.



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