Just as health can be an individual priority, language is the essence of a people, the most valuable thing. In short, language is the cultural carrier of a people, a community of speakers that connects with their past, present and future through the intergenerational transmission of language. In this way, most peoples want to preserve their language.

Individual and people's health converge: there is no quality health care, no equity, no linguistic justice, if health care is not provided in the language of the patient: in our country in Euskera. On the other hand, there will be no Euskal Herria Euskaldun if we do not euskaldunize the health system.

Basque plans and linguistic policies are therefore essential to ensure the individual and community health of speakers through health care in Basque. Osakidetza has created theirs: the first in 2005 and the second in 2013. We are now at a crucial juncture, for this year we have celebrated the third. Developing the Basque Plan. It can be said that we are at a crossroads. But unfortunately, there is no head of the Basque Service. As we have heard, the situation of an interim management worker is currently being covered. We have no doubt that he is a fine and honest worker and we wish him good luck in his work. However, the worker is not fixed, so he does not meet the requirements required in our organization by any Service Head.

According to the law, the Human Resources Directorate should open a call for the provision of this post, which is the one that will obtain post III. For the Euskera Plan to be addressed as soon as possible. Any person interested in such a position, according to the regulations, must have a seat in any service organization in Osakidetza, i.e. be permanent staff. We suspect that, being a free designation, Osakidetza’s management is waiting for the OPE to finalise to extend this public call in order to be able to choose a partner appropriate to its interest. In fact, a technician does not decide language policy: he is given the rules, the orders of the bosses. It doesn't have a real power to make decisions. And that is, after all, what they want: a servant, who is going to make a plan without lungs, who is going to be out of the centres of power and indebted to the authorities, out of fear. It is not fair that in the process of normalization of the Basque Country it is so important to use this type of uncommon and inadequate practices. It will not bring any benefit to Osakidetza, the Euskera Service or the Basque Country. As with the OPE, fraud has come, unless it is the Basque. The former Head of Service stated that the normalisation decree in Osakidetza falls within the competence of the Lehendakari and the Health Advisor, not a technician. The Head of the Euskera Service is the one they want, whenever they want, to do whatever they want. And if you have to wait for it, there is no problem: Once the OPE has been completed, you will get the place and it will then be when the call for appointment is opened. We know, in advance, who will be the next head of the Euskera Service. Fraud in Osakidetza, fraud in the Basque Country. To the detriment of patients, to the detriment of our country. Health, disaster, do whatever you want.

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To the Directorate of Human Resources of Osakidetza-Basque Health Service:

Decree 67/2003, of 18 March, establishing the standards and plans for the normalization of the use of Euskera in Osakidetza-Basque Health Service, according to Law 10/1982 oinarrituta.Legeari, determines that Osakidetza must establish a specific plan for normalization, whose development, implementation and evaluation is the responsibility of the Basque Service that is in charge of Human Resources. This year, in 2020, the III has been celebrated. The Euskera Plan must be put in place and it can therefore be said that we are at a turning point.

In this sense, the Directorate of Human Resources has the obligation to appoint a Head of the Euskera Corporate Service. In 2010, the last call was made for the provision of this position by the system of free designation, being D. Xabier Arauzo Uriarte, until recently, the Head of the Basque Service. Unfortunately, he has left office in autumn 2019, so there is currently no definitive head of the Euskera Service.

The Directorate of Human Resources of Osakidetza-Basque Health Service, in accordance with current legislation, should convene the provision of this position by the system of free designation. To address the Euskera Plan as soon as possible. Any person interested in such a position, according to the regulations, must have a place of ownership in any service organization in Osakidetza, i.e. be permanent staff.

As we know, at the moment, an interim worker in the management of the Euskera Service is temporarily in a position. We have no doubt that he is a fine and honest worker and we wish him good luck in his work. Currently, however, workers are not fixed, so they do not meet the requirements of our organization by any Head of Service. We ask the Human Resources Directorate of Osakidetza to confirm or reject this information. We suspect that, being a free designation, Osakidetza’s management is waiting for the OPE to complete to extend the public call for the appointment of the Head of the Euskera Service, in order to elect a colleague appropriate to his interest. We believe it is not fair that in the process of normalization of the Basque Country it is so important to use this type of unusual and inadequate practices. It does not benefit Osakidetza, the Basque Service and the Basque Country.

Therefore, aware of the importance it has both in Osakidetza and in Basque society, concerned about the seriousness of the situation, the Human Resources Directorate of Osakidetza-Basque Health Service is requested to immediately publish it. On the one hand, to avoid illegal practices and on the other, to ensure a clean, open, comprehensive, ethical, legal and fair process. At the same time, the Human Resources Directorate of Osakidetza should conduct a public call as soon as possible, driven by the situation of the Basque Country, leaving aside personal interests and without waiting for the results of the OPE.

If this were not the case, we would be obliged to publicly denounce the Human Resources Directorate.

Attentively,

Aitor Montes Lasarte

Family doctor in Aramaio, UAP Arrasate, OSI Alto Deba.