A privatized hospital that turns away patients opens a new war between Ayuso and the left

MadridThe privatization of Madrid's healthcare system is once again under scrutiny. And all eyes are on the Torrejón de Ardoz Hospital. It's at the center of the storm after... The Country Audio recordings have surfaced in which Pablo Gallart, CEO of Ribera Salut—the company that manages the hospital—is heard ordering the rejection of unprofitable patients or procedures to lengthen waiting lists. His aim was to perform fewer surgeries, thus reducing the need for staff and resources, and consequently increasing profits. This occurred during a September 25th meeting with group and hospital management: "In Torrejón, in 2022 and 2023, we decided as an organization to make an effort to reduce the waiting list. All I ask is: let's reverse course," he said. He also argued that Torrejón Hospital is operating at a loss, stating that it will never be profitable until the concession ends, and lamenting that the government's contribution is insufficient to cover expenses. Company sources consulted by The Country They countered that, taken out of context, the content of the audio recordings could be altered or misinterpreted and lose its meaning.

After the news broke, the Ministry of Health reacted: it convened an urgent meeting with the company's top management and sent a multidisciplinary team to the hospital to verify the situation. in situ "The proper provision of the service," as announced in a statement. From there, it will adopt "all the necessary actions and controls." For now, the department led by Fátima Matute emphasizes that it will not tolerate "any type of action or practice that could harm access to healthcare," which it guarantees will be provided "by the Madrid Health Service." At midday, the spokesperson for the government of the Community of Madrid, Miguel Ángel García, had defended the "magnificent and excellent" care provided in all Madrid hospitals and justified the liberalization system as "benefiting citizens," given that they can "choose the type of care." Between Moncloa and the Prosecutor's Office

The scandal has been gaining momentum throughout the day, to the point that even Pedro Sánchez has commented on it. has said his"The PP's model is to turn health into a business and illness into an opportunity to get rich." The Spanish president criticized the fact that a company CEO "decides on people's lives" and offered "all the instruments of the State" to defend public healthcare. Likewise, the Patient's Ombudsman has urged the Attorney General's Office to "investigate the matter thoroughly." In an interview on Midday on RNEThe president of the association, Carmen Flores, has denounced that public money "is being diverted" and expressed that "it is not an isolated case", but a "plot" in which they suspect alleged crimes of malfeasance and corruption.

Legal battle

Meanwhile, both the Madrid Socialist Party (PSOE) and Más Madrid have announced they are considering legal action against the Madrid regional government and have requested the appearance of the Health Minister before the Madrid Assembly. Más Madrid also intends to demand explanations from Pablo Gallart in parliament. The Secretary General of the Madrid Socialists, Minister Óscar López, believes Ayuso's management of healthcare is an "absolute disgrace" and denounces the hospital for treating patients like "customers" and turning a "right for all" into a "business for a few." For her part, the leader of Más Madrid, Minister Mónica García, condemned the "public-private parasitism," accused Ayuso of putting money "above lives," and criticized the practices revealed today as "absolutely intolerable" and putting her "in a very difficult position." The spokesperson in the Madrid Assembly, Manuela Bergerot, stressed that this "demonstrates once again that profit and health are completely incompatible" and presented Madrid's healthcare system as a "corrupt model designed for companies to make a fortune at the expense of the health and patience of Madrid's residents." "These vultures must be removed from all public hospitals," she added.