- Thousands of people gathered this Saturday in each of the capitals of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa to denounce the “deterioration, destruction and privatization of public health”. They call for 25% of Osakidetza's budget to be allocated to primary care.
Demonstrations in Bilbao and Vitoria for quality public health took place at noon on Saturday. They have made a third afternoon march in Donostia.
The mobilizations have been convened by the Public Platforms for Public Health. They have received the support of over 100 community agents, environmental groups or feminist movements in defense of “quality, dignified public care” in the face of the process of “dismantling and privatizing public health”. The call was supported by the unions ELA, LAB, CGT, CNT, UGT, CCOO, Steilas, USO, SAE and Satse.
“The Basque Government cannot believe those who have caused this situation. Those who over the years are destroying public health for the benefit of clinics and private insurance,” the statement reads at the end of the march. "They announce important investments in the acquisition of very sophisticated medical equipment and new buildings instead of destined to solve real public health problems, such as the lack of personnel and the dying and abandoned primary care, which solves 80% or 90% of the population's health problems."
They ask that 25% of the health budget be allocated to Primary Care, that consultations be of fifteen minutes per patient and that waiting lists be of a maximum of two days.
