Torrevieja will provide a full year of free, personalized cardiac rehabilitation for residents after they leave the hospital. The program, run by the city and university hospital, aims to lower the risk of repeat heart problems. Access depends on medical documentation and specialist approval.
Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in Spain. In 2024, nearly one in four deaths were linked to heart and circulatory problems. The Valencian Community alone recorded over 13,000 deaths and more than 42,000 new cases last year. In response, Torrevieja is launching a free, year-long cardiac rehabilitation program for residents who have just been discharged from the hospital.
Starting in October, the Ayuntamiento and Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja will run a structured Phase III cardiac rehab service. This isn’t a general wellness campaign, but a focused effort to support patients during the critical period after hospital care, when many lose momentum and face a higher risk of relapse. The European Society of Cardiology now recognizes community-based cardiac rehab as a key part of recovery, and more European countries are moving in this direction.
In Spain, physiotherapy and cardiac rehabilitation have been shown to reduce hospital readmissions by up to 75% for patients after cardiovascular events.
This new program covers the community phase, after the initial hospital recovery (Phase I) and supervised outpatient sessions (Phase II). For twelve months, patients get free access to municipal sports facilities: the gym, Pilates classes, outdoor cycling, and the swimming pool. Each plan is tailored to the individual, following the recommendations of hospital cardiologists and rehab specialists. There are no generic routines—safety and medical oversight are required.
To join, patients must have completed the first two phases of cardiac rehab and provide medical documentation from the hospital’s cardiology and rehab departments. Applications are accepted in person at the Health Promotion office on Calle Clemente Gosálvez or online through the city’s electronic portal under the Health section.
This program comes as Spanish health authorities face growing pressure to improve chronic disease care outside hospitals. The numbers are stark: ischaemic heart disease alone caused 26,851 deaths nationwide in 2024. Torrevieja’s approach stands out, especially after recent controversies elsewhere, such as a Madrid hospital lowering patient priority to meet surgery quotas, which led to delays and internal disputes.
The European Parliament placed cardiovascular health high on its agenda in September 2026, emphasizing the importance of prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term patient management across EU member states. This reflects a growing recognition that effective cardiac care must extend beyond hospital discharge and into community-based support.
By combining city resources with hospital expertise, Torrevieja is focusing on prevention instead of crisis response. The city’s model could influence other regions facing similar health challenges. The main question is whether this year-long support will actually lower the risk of repeat heart problems and keep patients out of emergency care. For now, Torrevieja is making it clear: cardiac recovery doesn’t stop at the hospital, and public health policy needs to follow patients into their daily routines if Spain wants to change the statistics.
