Thousands in Spain rally against healthcare cuts
Thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets of the capital, Madrid, to pressure politicians to halt the implementation of cuts in the nation’s healthcare system, Press TV reports.
The protesters on Sunday demanded that the next government restore the country’s national health system. They further demanded an end to the mass privatization of medical services that has cost thousands of public sector jobs and left millions without free access to medicine.
Due to such concerns, some medics have filed formal complaints in Spanish courts asking judges to force hospitals to expand resources. This is while the public health care system in Spain is bearing the brunt of the economic recession.
Political parties such as the socialists, the United Left and the Podemos, participated in a demonstration. They fear that if the ruling Popular Party wins again, they will do away with a public healthcare system at a faster rate.
“Over the last four years medical services have been very badly managed and private care has been privileged,” said Antonio Rivera, a nurse at a local hospital that took part in the protest march.
Another protester, Rafael Simancas, of Spain’s Socialist Workers’ Party, further stated, “The constitutional court does not recognize health system privatization, but the court has given the green light to privatization in Madrid. So the [ruling] Popular Party Candidates for Madrid are taking advantage of this green light.”
Not only the public health care is no longer universal in Spain by denying treatment to undocumented immigrants, it has also neglected people who are suffering from diseases such as hepatitis C or endometriosis. Their deaths can easily be prevented, yet thousands are dying every year.
In 2014 the Red Cross became responsible for collecting blood donations. They are paid 67 euros by the government per pouch of collected donated blood. Many, however, suspect that the NGO is profiting from this.
More than 65,000 people are on waiting lists across the country to use medical services, but they are done with waiting. They want universal, quality healthcare and are putting pressure on the government just two weeks before general elections are due to take place.
MFB/NN/HMV
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