OE2027. Health budget drops by 1.5%

The proposed 2027 state budget allocates 17.858 billion euros to the health sector, representing a 1.5% decrease or a cut of 267.5 million euros compared to 2026.

The proposed 2027 state budget allocates 17.858 billion euros to the health sector, representing a 1.5% decrease or a cut of 267.5 million euros compared to 2026.
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Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows that nearly 20% of adults aged 25-34 sought at least one mental health consultation in 2025. The study also notes that regular use of medications for insomnia, anxiety, and depression is significantly more common among women than men, and that mental well-being indices are lower among women and the elderly.

The average waiting time for the SNS 24 health line has risen significantly, from 63 seconds in February to nearly five minutes in June, with peak periods seeing users wait between 30 minutes and two hours. Despite a contractual obligation for the service provider, Altice, to keep average wait times under 30 seconds, this target has not been met since October 2024, resulting in 1.5 million euros in fines paid between 2024 and 2025.
New data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that nearly 30% of adults aged 25 to 34 are taking medication for anxiety. The report also highlights that 9.8% of individuals aged 85 and over suffer from severe depression symptoms, with antidepressant use being more common among women.