BarcelonaHealth Minister Mónica García sent a formal request on Tuesday to the regions governed by the People's Party (PP), demanding that they submit, within a maximum of one month, the data from their early detection programs for breast, colon, and cervical cancer for the last five years, which she requested following the errors detected in Andalusia and which they have repeatedly refused to provide. García added that if they do not have all the requested indicators from the last five years, the regional governments will be obligated to submit at least the results they have available so far or those they currently use in evaluating regional screening programs. Meanwhile, in several regions governed by the People's Party (PP), such as Madrid and Andalusia, the argument is that the request does not comply with current regulations and that the data-sharing tool is not yet operational.
With this request, the Ministry of Health initiates the legal procedure to obtain the requested indicators – how many people undergo early detection programs, how many cases are detected, and at what point – as it already did a few weeks ago with the registry of conscientious objectors to abortion in Aragon, the Balearic Islands, and Madrid, and which the Ayz government... In the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, García stated that if the ministry does not receive the requested information within a month, it will resort to the administrative courts to obtain the data because "the law, in that country, is obeyed."
Following the scandal in Andalusia, where there have been errors and delays in breast cancer diagnoses affecting more than 2,300 women, and for whichThe first complaints are already on the table at the High Prosecutor's Office of Andalusia.The Ministry of Health requested data on cancer screenings from all autonomous communities. Although the problem in the community governed by Juanma Moreno was primarily in the detection of breast cancer, the Spanish government also requested data on colon and cervical cancer screenings.
The governments of Madrid, the Valencian Community, and La Rioja, all controlled by the People's Party (PP), They refusedThey argued that they have no obligation and that the request from Pedro Sánchez's government is seeking "political confrontation." This same Tuesday, the government of the Community of Madrid criticized the minister's "headlong rush," reproaching her for appealing to an institutional loyalty she "completely lacks," and reiterated that the tool for sharing data is still missing. "The cancer screening network is neither useful nor valid, since it is not an official network with the participation of all the autonomous communities," they added. However, García has asserted that the other communities have already sent the information or are in the process of doing so.
Preliminary step to the courts
Legal sources indicate to the ARA that a request like the one announced by the ministry is common before initiating contentious legal proceedings, which is the jurisdiction responsible for administrative actions. The ministry has clarified that its request is based on various regulations, such as the General Health Law, the Law on Cohesion and Quality of the National Health System (SNS), and the General Law on Public Health, which "oblige administrations to cooperate and provide the necessary information to exercise surveillance and coordination in matters of public health." The same sources add that there is a "constitutional obligation" for the autonomous communities to collaborate both among themselves and with the higher administration so that each can exercise its powers. Therefore, they add, sharing screening data would fall under the obligation to allow the ministry to exercise its powers. "Mammograms in this country are sacred," stated García, who asserted that "there is no ulterior political interest, nor any electoral calculation" that takes precedence over that. The minister emphasized that this data "does not belong to Mr. Moreno Bonilla, nor to Ms. Ayuso, nor to Mr. Mañueco." Therefore, she demanded "transparency" and accused them of "disloyalty." In the minister's opinion, the refusal to make the screenings public demonstrates that the People's Party "is covering up" for Moreno and the "incompetence and negligence" of all the regions where it governs, "or both at the same time." "The Andalusian Regional Government must abandon its arrogance and this dereliction of duty to protect women's health," she added. And she concluded: "The People's Party must abandon this management model, this negligence, based on contempt for the victims."
Catalonia responds
In Catalonia, the government spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque, has stated that the breast cancer screening program is functioning "correctly" and is "well-regarded." She also affirmed that, should there be changes in the target population—currently women between the ages of 50 and 69 who are screened every two years—the Catalan government will not impose "any budgetary limitations."
Paneque also criticized the fact that these issues could not be addressed at the last Interterritorial Health Council meeting "because the representatives of the PP-governed regions walked out and prevented a quorum from being reached for approval." "Before criticizing, one should consider their responsibilities within the organizations. And before leaving their seat, they should consider the potential consequences," he said.