Spain: a "white tide" marches in defense of the health system in the Madrid region

Demonstration in support of the support system for the health system of the Madrid region, in Gran Via and Cybele Square, on November 13, in Madrid.

AP - Manu Fernandez

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Some 200,000 people according to the authorities of Madrid and the triple according to the organizers.

Protesters took to the streets of the Spanish capital this Sunday morning to defend the public health system in this region.

Madrid is the richest region, but it is also the one that invests the least in the health system. 

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With our correspondent in Madrid

,

It was a real white tide that invaded the center of Madrid this Sunday morning to support the region's public health system.

There were white coats, but also representatives of the political class and the world of culture such as filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, who marched against the measures of the very liberal president of the Madrid region, Isabel Ayuso, also the one of the figures of the People's Party (PP).

►Also listen: In Spain, a public health system on the brink

In Spain, where health is a competence of each region, the Madrid region is the one that invests the least in the public system.

The socialist central government gave its support to the demonstrators.

“ 

”, affirmed the Minister of the Presidency, Felix Bolaños.

“ 

 ,” he added.

According to him, the crisis in the region's public health system is due to " 

 " on the part of the PP regional government.

Lack of staff

Since the Covid crisis, problems have multiplied in health centers, where there is a shortage of staff.

But what has just caused this massive mobilization of health personnel and patients is the ultimate decision of the authorities to close the first aid centers in the least populated areas.

Several already saturated hospital emergencies have been forced to close due to lack of staff.

Last week, 34 doctors loudly announced their resignations.

However, this gesture provoked the taunts of the current president Isabel Ayuso.

This Sunday, the medical profession was expecting an apology from the leader and above all a change in health policy with more resources.

The demonstration comes ahead of a strike announced for November 21 by 5,000 doctors, including paediatricians, who are protesting against their " 

" appointment books 

 and " 

 ”.

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• Spain

• Health and medicine