Cartagena reinforces Public Health area with a 2 million investment in infrastructure and a new integrated laboratory.

The City Council of Cartagena is about to experience a significant improvement in public health services thanks to the project that will modernize the building located in Plaza de San Agust�n and create an Integrated Public Health Laboratory that will unify the technical work of the municipal and regional laboratories.

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The Mayor of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo, visited the facilities this morning with the Health Councillor, Juan Jos� Pedre�o, and the Health Councillor, Gonzalo L�pez, on the occasion of the announcement of an investment of 2 million euros that will allow the completion of the comprehensive rehabilitation of the building and optimize its energy efficiency, accessibility, and functionality. This action is co-funded by the FEDER funds of the Region of Murcia.

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Arroyo emphasized that «this action is great news for Cartagena. It allows us to strengthen an essential service for the health and safety of citizens, with a new unified laboratory that adds capabilities, avoids duplications, and ensures a faster and more effective response to any health risk.»

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In this regard, the Councillor recalled that «last year, half a million euros were invested in the renovation of the main facade of this building, which will now have eight more offices, a new meeting room, and a multipurpose room,» which, according to Pedre�o, will help expand the capabilities of the services provided by Public Health, as well as the health inspection services of Cartagena.

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A laboratory at the service of health and citizen safety

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The new Integrated Public Health Laboratory will operate as a joint technical unit, although each institution will maintain the management of its personnel. With an area of 300 m� on the first floor of the building, the integration will allow sharing facilities, technology, and procedures, improving the health control of water, food, and the urban environment.

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«The work of laboratories is often invisible but essential,» the Mayor remarked. «They analyze the quality of the water we drink, supervise our beaches and pools, and act rigorously in the face of any health outbreak. With this unity, we all win, especially the residents of Cartagena.»

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During 2024, the municipal laboratory, with a budget of 708,000 euros, carried out over 3,000 analyses, highlighting its role in monitoring drinking water, wastewater, urban pest surveillance, and collaboration in regional plans such as the tiger mosquito surveillance. Additionally, it has had the ENAC quality accreditation since 2007, ensuring the legal and scientific validity of all results.

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