Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Evolution of social thermalism program of
IMSERSO
Martín-Megías AI (1) , Tejerizo J (2) ,
(1) Hydrology. IMSERSO. Madrid. Spain
(2) Civil servant of Career. IMSERSO. Madrid. Spain
anabelmartin@imserso.es
Introduction and Objectives
The importance of healthy living models in the maintenance of the activity until
later in a time when the capabilities of the person, their life chances and opportunities
for participation in all spheres of social life are prolonged much longer than in
previous decades, all of them justify that this Social or Public Thermalism Program
is included in the social policies of our country as one of the “Active Ageing Programs”.
The Social Thermalism was set in Spain as a complementary service to
benefits under the Social Security System and aims to provide older people who
need it, the assistance that is provided by thermal resorts in Spain. As a public
initiative this Social Program is a service that facilitates Imserso, an agency within
the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equal, and has twenty-four years of
existence. Over the years, managers have seen fit to introduce regulatory and administrative
changes that would allow better management and better adaptation of
the program features to his philosophy and character of public service. This report
aims to analyze both the justifications that have motivated these changes and the
consequences they have had in the thermal sector actually involved in this program
in our country, from a qualitative and also quantitative point of view.
Materials and Methods
The revision of the regulations governing the program and the statistical data of
annual reports of activity the public agency that manages the service.
Results
The basic regulations governing the program has changed to expand access to
people in greatest need of thermal treatment and special social and family situations.
And they have sought management solutions to facilitate wider and flexible
coverage of seats in spas. But also there have been to find solutions to budget cuts
and freezes to ensure the program\'s growth. The initial medical report has been
dropped to streamline procedures for our seniors, and medical activities in the resort
during the stay has been reduced to the detriment of the shares of the insurance
company contracted.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 275-276
275
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4