"It is sold as an improvement, but we think it is very serious and dangerous for professionals outside the health system to access the health system," says the union. "It violates the right to confidentiality of medical data as a user of the public health system of Osakidetza, which may seriously impair the doctor-patient relationship of the public health system, and may not interest the record of the attention or harm they cause in the world of work".

With this agreement, the Government has given Mutualia more power to manage workers’ requests for leave, according to the LAB trade union. "We cannot forget that Mutualia is an association of entrepreneurs who will suspect anyone who has discharged him. It will serve to question the professionalism of the Osakidetza health workers who have earned their jobs through public oppositions, attesting their merits and capacity. The jobs, salaries and allowances of mutual doctors are contingent upon employers not seeking health care meeting the established criteria, reducing casualties and increasing business performance. It’s as if in a top-level sports competition the match was arbitrated by the coach of the other team. Nobody would accept it."

Last Thursday the agreement between the government and Mutualia was signed, as can be read in Irekia. The Government ' s note reads:

"Through this Convention, and using computer tools and applications, the access of the Mutual Health Societies' health personnel to their patients' medical records will be facilitated in order to know their medical history, treatments being received, tests, diagnostic tests, etc. In the same way, Osakidetza staff will be able to know first-hand the risks, accidents and treatments of their patients in the workplace. The convention also provides for access to information, as well as access to new information to the medical records and records of the people cared for from both institutions. In this way, in addition to sharing information and incorporating new data immediately, duplications in analytical and diagnostic tests will be avoided".

The agreement signed by the Government makes special mention of the need for patient authorization for the Mutual Fund to access its Osakidetza file.

LAB believes that this agreement "goes the wrong way" and involves a new privatization of public health for the benefit of employers. "These interests have always been defended by the PNV, feeding these mutual societies by hiring the professional contingencies of the entire Basque Government with Mutualia. The clearest example is Osakidetza, the professional contingency contributions of the workers of Osakidetza go to Mutualia, so theoretically if a hospital worker suffers an accident he must go to Mutualia to take care of him. Does it make sense? they say.

The LAB syndicate emphasizes that they will work in two ways: on the one hand, to curb the impact of this agreement, and on the other, to build a model of labor relations, health and social protection. "According to our needs as a country and as workers, without mutual societies and for the benefit of the health of all".