They have reported that in recent years the resources of the Integrated Health Organization of Osakidetza in Aiaraldea have been “diminishing and weakening”, “and not only in holiday periods”.

They have been identified as two specific problems. On the one hand, they have explained that in recent years the practice without doctors has been “fully normalized in the Continuous Care Points of Llodio and Amurrio”. On the other hand, they have stressed that there has also been a lack of medical personnel in the area in ambulances. “We have also seen, on more than one occasion, that the medicalized ambulance that served our region has been without a doctor and that there has also been another medicalized ambulance of Barrualde-Galdakao without a doctor. In these cases, the entire Integrated Health Organization has been left without an adequate emergency service,” they warned.

In this regard, they have recalled that this year in Laudio two people have died in this context: “Accidents could happen even with 100% of health services, but health services must be 100% at all times and emergency services must respond to emergencies in time and with adequate provision. They can’t generate doubts, and it’s sad to think about what would happen if the situation were different.”

But the problem goes beyond the lack of doctors, as they reported in the hearing. “In the rest of the villages of the region, there has also been a “decline in Primary Care” and has also been noticed in other areas of public health, such as the “Mental Health Center service”.

Four specific demands

As explained at a press conference, "corrective measures" have not been taken so far and the Aiaraldea opera is "increasingly weak" in terms of Osakidetza's resources. Thus, four specific demands have been made for the collection of signatures:

• To ensure, at all times and shifts of the Continuing Care Centers of Llodio and Amurrio, the professional health of all the necessary specialties and categories, as well as medical personnel. We also demand that all the necessary human resources be guaranteed at all times in the rest of the Osakidetza infrastructure in the region.
• Ensure all necessary health professionals in all shifts of the Llodio Medicalized Ambulance (SVA), including doctors.
• We demand the guarantee of the basic care services of Osakidetza, to which we are entitled.
• We ask for quick care at the Mental Health Center, reducing waiting lists to be attended by both psychiatrist and psychologist. People with mental health problems are entitled to quality care.

Call for signature collection

The proponents of the initiative have stressed that “what is at stake” and that “everyone needs poisoning” in the struggle for a public and dignified health system. In this sense, they have encouraged all the neighbors of the region to participate actively in the collection of signatures. To this end, they have made an email aiaraldekogrebabatzordea@aiaraldea.eus available to interested parties. “Encourage you to collaborate by collecting signatures in your workplace, school, town or neighborhood.”