Spain’s health bill stalls before election, Balearics warn
Spain’s proposed law on public healthcare faces a setback: the 29 November election removes proposals awaiting debate from parliament’s agenda, a health campaign group says. Speaking in Madrid on 6 October, Manuel Martín, president of the Federation of Associations for the Defence of Public Healthcare, called on the next government to revive the bill. José Manuel Aranda, who heads the federation’s Balearic association, said it would not have passed even without an election.
The bill concerns the public management and integrity of Spain’s National Health System. Martín said the next government should put citizens’ interests ahead of those of lobby groups when deciding whether to take it forward.
Aranda pointed to Junts, the Catalan party whose support was needed to pass the law. He said the party favours cooperation between public and private healthcare and would not have backed the bill.
Sergio Fernández, a federation spokesman, wants healthcare to feature prominently in the election debate, including what kind of system Spain wants and how to curb privatisation.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com