Copyright euroweeklynews
Marbella residents are celebrating the opening of the new Ricardo Soriano Health Centre, a modern facility designed to ease healthcare access and improve daily life for thousands in the city centre. Just inaugurated in a fully renovated 2,000-square-metre building, the centre began serving patients on Thursday, October 30 and is already making a significant improvements to local primary care services. The facility features 23 consultation rooms, including a dedicated space for minor surgery, along with advanced equipment such as a cutting-edge mammogram machine, the fifth in the district, a new ultrasound device, and a retinograph for eye screenings. Physiotherapy services, previously unavailable at the nearby Leganitos centre, are now offered here, providing comprehensive care under one roof. This setup is expected to significantly decongest the overburdened Leganitos facility, which has struggled with space issues for decades. Serving approximately 20,000 residents, many of whom are elderly, the centre employs a dedicated team of 20 full-time professionals, supplemented by five shared staff members. In its initial phase, it operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm, with plans to extend hours to 8am to 8pm in the coming months. The expansion will offer better flexibility for working families and reduce wait times for appointments. As Marbella’s sixth primary care centre, Ricardo Soriano plays a key role in a broader initiative to modernise healthcare infrastructure across Andalusia’s Costa del Sol. Similar upgrades, including expansions at La Carihuela in Torremolinos and Los Boliches in Fuengirola completed in September, reflect ongoing efforts to address the region’s growing population and year-round demand. Over the past three decades, Malaga province has seen an influx of 600,000 residents without corresponding facility growth, making these improvements essential for sustainable healthcare. The project has involved over €3 million in renovations by local authorities, transforming a historic building into a cutting-edge healthcare hub. Residents benefit from improved and updated preventive care, quicker diagnostics, and specialised treatments closer to home, promoting overall well-being and reducing travel times to distant hospitals. The development is part of a province-wide investment exceeding €350 million in Malaga’s health network over recent years, with €32 million allocated this year alone. Upcoming projects, such as new centres in Nueva Andalucia and expansions at Las Albarizas, promise continued progress.
