From June 4th to 5th, the Auditorium of La Lonja in Orihuela hosts the XII National Congress of Chronic Patients, organized by the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN). The event has brought together healthcare professionals, patients, families, and associations from across Spain.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by prominent authorities, including the mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara; the delegate of the Consell in Alicante, Agustina Esteve; the territorial director of Health, Francisco José Ponce; the councilor for Health, Irene Celdrán; the national vice-president of SEMERGEN, Rafael Micó; and the president of the Organizing Committee, José Luis Pardo.

Mayor Vegara highlighted the congress's importance as a space for dialogue and shared learning, echoing Gregorio Marañón's words on the significance of listening to patients. "Medicine advances through research, innovation, and knowledge, but also through closeness, listening, and understanding people," he stated.

Vegara thanked SEMERGEN for choosing Orihuela as the venue and advocated for a closer, more human healthcare approach. He also acknowledged the dedication of healthcare professionals, emphasizing their continuous preparation and service vocation, and praised the strength and perseverance of patients and their families.

For her part, the delegate of the Consell, Agustina Esteve, identified chronicity as a major current challenge, advocating for the strengthening of Primary Care, prevention, healthy habits, and technological innovation, without overlooking the human dimension of each personal story.

The Councilor for Health, Irene Celdrán, defined the congress as a space to listen to patients and professionals, focusing on the human aspect of illness. "Today we are not just inaugurating a congress. Today we are opening a space to listen," she declared, emphasizing that caring also involves listening, accompanying, and recognizing the dignity of each person.

José Luis Pardo, president of the Organizing Committee, expressed his satisfaction with hosting the event in Orihuela, noting the high participation and the collaboration of the City Council. Rafael Micó, national vice-president of SEMERGEN, stressed that health is a cross-cutting issue concerning everyone.

Under the theme 'Let's Listen to Patients,' the congress features conferences, debates, and practical workshops on topics such as obesity, diabetes, vaccines, cardiovascular prevention, cognitive decline, palliative care, professional-patient communication, and the impact of new technologies. A Health Circuit with prevention and detection activities is also open to attendees.