The Socialist Parliamentary Group presents in this next Plenary Session of the Regional Chamber a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) to promote a unanimous commitment to the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) to include art, and especially live music, as support for health, taking into account the development of policies that improve collaboration between music and the health sector.
In the initiative, defended by the socialist deputies Marcos Hernández and Dolores Corujo, the Government of the Canary Islands is urged, through the Ministry of Health, to incorporate new policies to humanize the health environment through the arts and, mainly, music.
In addition, it is requested that work be done on a draft collaboration agreement with the Musicians for Health Foundation, to explore ways of collaboration that allow, on an ongoing basis, the inclusion of musical performances in hospitals.
The initiative also supports assessing the inclusion of the arts, and especially music, in health plans.
For the socialists, this commitment would be a "historic milestone" for the humanization of health care in the Canary Islands, and a first step to implement the WHO recommendation to introduce music in health, bringing music to patients and responding to the demands of health professionals themselves.
In addition, they recall that this proposal arises at the request of Musicians for Health after seven years of activity offering live music in hospitals and social health centers, as recommended by the World Health Organization, uniting the voices of the health sector, the music industry and civil society.
Since its birth in 2015, Musicians for Health has helped nearly half a million people through its micro-concerts, which, according to a study by the Music Therapy and Health Foundation, reduce patient anxiety by 27% and increase their well-being by 88%. During this 2022 alone, the Foundation has carried out 762 micro-concerts in hospitals and social health centers throughout the country, which translates into 1,524 hours of live music.
The proposal recalls that music has proven to be key to the mood of patients and their mental health, especially because the pandemic situation "has highlighted the importance of accompanying patients during their stays in hospitals and health centers with the aim of alleviating situations of isolation and loneliness."
The Socialist Group insists on the conclusions of multiple studies that reflect the benefits of live music, such as reducing anxiety and increasing the well-being of patients, and express their support for all professionals and artists "who work with passion to, through music, provide greater well-being to patients, families and health professionals."
