Since last May, the People’s Party, which has an absolute majority, has been preventing a general debate in the Andalusian Parliament on the situation of the Andalusian healthcare system. The explanation for this veto was never entirely clear until this Tuesday, when the popular group’s spokesman, Toni Martín, said: “It makes no sense. It is ridiculous to have a general debate with the intention of sounding the alarm, and we will not play this game. General debates take place when they are of exceptional importance, for example during the pandemic. There are problems, but they will be solved.”
The socialist groups and Por Andalucía (Sumar’s regional brand) have joined forces to call for this debate, which includes the presentation of proposed resolutions. The motion has not even reached the Speaker’s Council, the body responsible for approving the agendas of the plenary session, because the chamber table controlled by the PP did not want it.
The publication of data on waiting lists in the Andalusian health system earlier this week, which came a year late “due to technical problems”, speaks of an exceptionally high number of Andalusians queuing to see a specialist or waiting for an operation. A million people in a community of 8.5 million people were in this situation as of June last year: 192,561 were waiting for surgery and 841,731 were waiting for a specialist.
Health Minister Catalina García’s statement on these figures shocked the opposition. “These data are supported by the activities of the Andalusian public health system. And if the system works, the waiting lists will get longer,” he told Canal Sur Televisión.
The PP usually reacts to criticism from unions, professional associations and political parties by looking in the rearview mirror. He compares his five regional budgets since he took office with the Socialists’ last in 2018. The numbers speak for themselves: the health service has increased its budget by 43%, the health workforce has increased from 90,000 professionals to 125,000; and new health infrastructure was created, with the renovation of the old military hospital in Seville – a building that had been abandoned for a decade – serving as a great showcase. But in their mobile phone applications, the Andalusian Health Service usually responds to those who want to see their family doctor: “Sorry, the appointments for the next few days are fully booked.” New appointments will be available shortly. Please try again soon.” The data on how many Andalusians are in this situation, unlike those waiting for surgery or a specialist, is not calculated. But the opposition and local media report dates for May 2025.
“What is happening is not normal,” said Socialist spokeswoman Ángeles Férriz. According to him, Moreno’s government has remained silent for a year about the data on waiting lists because the election calls were repeated one after the other and because they were “indecent”. In her opinion, it all stems from a “deliberate” decision by the Andalusian government to “push people into private healthcare.” Férriz has asked the CEO to fire the adviser and accused Moreno of being “involved in other things.”
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Vox spokesman Manuel Gavira made a similar statement. “Moreno is there at all parties, like the child at the baptism, the groom at the wedding and the deceased at the funeral. They talk a lot about investments and hospitals and have no doctors. “There must be a ‘SAS case’ in Andalusia. There must be something hidden, because if it isn’t, it won’t be explained. “We used to be bad, but now we are worse.” Gavira did not call for the resignation of the health minister, but asked Moreno for “a thought.”
The mixed group Adelante Andalucía demanded García’s head because “he is unsuitable for the position”. Por Andalucía deputy spokeswoman Esperanza Gómez criticized the diversion of health spending to private healthcare and “the disastrous” management of the Moreno executive.
The PP’s refusal to give the green light to the general health debate hardly fits with the similar demands that this party has called for in its 37 years in opposition. A total of 72 general debates took place in the 12 Andalusian parliaments, some on health and most on the impact of general state budgets on the community. The format of this type of parliamentary discussion favors the government, which opens the debate and can intervene “as often as desired”. To justify his rejection, the PP spokesman said that in recent months the Minister of Health had intervened in plenary for a total of 14 hours to answer 49 oral questions, nine appearances and three interpellations. “And what difference does it make if two and a half more hours are added?” he was asked. “Out of respect for this Parliament,” he replied.