Health minister hedges her bets on idea of co-payment

In her first parliamentary appearance, Health Minister Ana Mato said she would seek a broad agreement to ensure the sustainability of the public health system. Although she did not rule out a national co-payment system, neither did she say it would definitely be adopted. During its campaign, the Popular Party (PP) denied plans for a co-pay system.

Mato is the fifth health minister to face the challenge of achieving consensus among the regional governments, political parties and professional associations. But she has the advantage of PP administrations in most of Spain's 17 regions. Mato also spoke of upcoming measures affecting children, teens, women, victims of domestic abuse, pregnant women and the elderly. The minister advanced very few details, except on the issue of the morning-after pill, which is currently available over the counter but which the conservative PP wants to revert to prescription-only.

To that effect, Mato said that she was analyzing how other European countries regulate this drug and its possible health effects on women and teenage girls. The Spanish Drug Agency has no records of adverse effects from taking the morning-after pill, which inhibits ovulation, but conservative groups have consistently targeted it on the false claim that it is abortion-inducing.

The move comes shortly after Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón announced a return to the more restrictive abortion law of 1985.