Opposition Councillors belonging to Motril Town Council joined the protest yesterday against the Junta concerning a lack of medical staff.

Councillors David Martín and Sagrario Martín Pino considered that the conservative-run Junta de Andalucía is attempting to privatise public health care in the region, thus creating “first and second-class citizens.”

The spokesman for the Andalucía Por Sí party said, “It is the technique they always apply, leaving a public service without economic and human means in order to privatise it with the excuse that a public system cannot be managed effectively.”

Councillor Martín considers that this situation has led to many within the Andalusian population taking out private, health coverage, thinking that for a monthly fee of 20 euros they will obtain quick access to a doctor and medical care when what they pay per year is what it costs for a CT-scan or an ambulance transfer within the same municipality.

For this reason his party is asking citizens to stand up for public healthcare, as it is a Universal Right under the Spanish Constitution.

He concluded that The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) does not replace medical staff who are taking their holidays, or retiring or are off sick, leaving medical facilities understaffed or making remaining staff members work double shifts.

Editorial comment: this must sound familiar to British readers…

(News/Noticias: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)