Spain's health waiting lists: data reform blocked
Spain’s healthcare waiting lists remain on six-monthly reports: the national health council rejects a plan for more frequent figures on Friday 23 October. Health minister Mónica García says regions led by the conservative People’s Party voted against it. She calls the decision “political irresponsibility”.
What the new figures would show
Under the draft decree, waiting-list data would be submitted every three months, with figures for each month. García says the data would also be checked digitally and included in official statistics. The aim is to show how long people have waited until the end of their treatment process, rather than leave the public with figures she says could be misleading.
What happens next
García says she will put the draft out for public consultation so people can read it. The plan still needs the council’s approval for its proposed reporting measures.
For patients in Spain, that leaves the current reporting system in place for now. García accuses the People’s Party-led regions of voting against changes intended to make waiting lists more reliable.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com