The Official Medical Association of Las Palmas has acquired a property at 32 León y Castillo, just 90 meters from its headquarters, for €1,175,000. The operation, financed with its own funds, will allow for the creation of simulation classrooms and specific spaces for association activities.
The Official Medical Association of Las Palmas has taken a firm step to modernise its facilities. The board of directors, presided over by Elizabeth Hernández, has approved the purchase of a property at 32 León y Castillo, just 90 meters from the main headquarters. The transaction amounts to €1,175,000, an investment that will be made entirely with its own resources, without resorting to bank financing or increasing the fees of its members, which have been frozen for 15 years.
The new space consists of two floors, one at street level and another in the basement, each with about 420 square meters. The decision was unanimously supported on June 30 during a general assembly held in person at the three provincial headquarters —Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote— connected electronically. During the meeting, the board explained that other alternatives had been studied, such as renovating existing classrooms or expanding training spaces, but the physical limitations of the current building and regulatory requirements prevented any significant growth.
A property for rent with an option to buy
The property is currently under a rental agreement with an option to buy, and the operation is pending consultation with the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and technicians to determine the necessary permits for the renovation works. Among the planned actions is the installation of a ventilation outlet through an interior courtyard and the modification of a disused freight elevator. If the homeowners' association does not authorise the renovations, the purchase would be cancelled, and the Association would consider another location, which it has already identified.
The acquisition responds to the need to create specific spaces for association activities. Currently, the rooms are multifunctional, which forces constant adaptations for courses, meetings, and events. The main room has a capacity of about 120 seats, insufficient for a membership that already reaches 7,767 and is expected to reach 8,000 next year. The new property will allow for the incorporation of simulation classrooms, one of the most requested training demands by doctors, as well as renewing the audiovisual and technical resources related to teaching.
A historic headquarters that is becoming too small
The current headquarters in Gran Canaria, located at 44 León y Castillo, opened its doors in 1956, when there were barely 500 members. Seven decades later, the number of doctors has multiplied by 15, and the facilities have become outdated. The proximity between the two buildings —just 90 meters— will allow all association activities to be maintained in the same environment, facilitating access for professionals. For the residents of Las Palmas, this investment represents an improvement in the institution's responsiveness to the present and future challenges of the medical profession, without impacting the fees of its members.
The operation, still in progress, reflects the Association's commitment to continuous training and modernisation. Meanwhile, the doctors in the province can rest assured: there will be no special assessments or fee increases. The purchase is financed with the institution's savings, which has preferred to invest in property rather than debt. A decision that, given the growth of the membership, seems more than sensible.
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