Three questions to: RSCN Executive Board Members from the Andalusia Reference Site

Ana Maria Carriazo

Mercedes García Sáez

Where do you live? What was your professional path?

AMC: I live in Seville, the capital of Andalusia (south of Spain), where I was born. It is a beautiful city of 700,000 people. I have an MD, PhD in public health and I am specialist in preventive medicine and public health. I have been working in the public healthcare system in my region for over 30 years, with differing responsibilities at the Andalusian Health Service and at the Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia.

MGS: I was born in Seville, although I moved to Germany in my early childhood where I studied psychology and started the first steps of my career. After a period of 20 years, I returned to Spain and started to work for the Regional Ministry of Social Services of Andalusia where I have been working in different positions including international cooperation for development, addictions, social inclusion and the coordination of the external action of the Regional Ministry.

What organisation do you work for and what is its role?

AMC: Currently I work as senior advisor at the Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia, in charge of European and International issues and coordinating its participation in different networks and EU projects and initiatives.

MGS: I currently work for the Agency of Social Services and Dependency as Director of the area for Drug addictions and social inclusion where we develop different plans and programmes in this respect. At the same time, we coordinate different EU actions and networks on behalf of the Regional Ministry for Equality and Social Policies. The Regional Government of Andalusia is responsible for public health and healthcare policy, management and provision of healthcare services as well as social welfare and social care policies in the region (8.5 M inhabitants). The Regional Ministry of Health and the Regional Ministry of Equality and Social Policies work together in the consolidation and maintenance of these fundamental social welfare pillars, and particularly in the field of active and healthy ageing. Both Regional Ministries lead the Andalusia Reference Site, in collaboration with different entities adopting the quadruple helix approach.

What do you see as the opportunities for the RSCN in the future?

AMC: Andalusia is a founding member of the RSCN, the collaborative network of sites recognised by the European Commission as being actively involved in the field of active and healthy ageing. I think it is an ideal platform to exchange knowledge and build stronger partnerships, facilitating an adoption of digital innovative solutions in the field of health and social care. Being the RSCN representative at the eHealth Stakeholders Group of the European Commission, contributing to its works and discussions, is an opportunity to broaden these partnerships.

MGS: The possibility to elaborate a thorough analysis of the social and health scenario in Europe and at the same create synergies from different areas of expertise, combining the efforts to increase the active aging and the public policies aiming at the improvement of life of our seniors.