A scandal is emerging in Andalusia over the region’s early breast cancer detection system. The Amama association, which brings together women with breast cancer, has filed 25 official complaints with the regional government. Women from Sevilla and Jaén have reported delays and diagnostic errors, leading to worsening health and, in some cases, the need for major surgical interventions.
According to Amama, the number of affected women is approaching four thousand—almost twice as many as officially acknowledged. Representatives of the association note that new patients reach out to them daily with similar experiences. Many only learned of their diagnosis when it was already too late, making treatment much more difficult and traumatic.
Andalusian authorities say they are willing to review each complaint individually and, if necessary, provide compensation. However, patients and their advocates express frustration with the way the dialogue is being handled: they report facing bureaucratic hurdles and efforts to downplay the scale of the problem. The association says it has real evidence and the backing of women, but faces mistrust and even attempts to exclude them from official discussions.
The situation is further complicated by disagreements over the exact number of those affected. Officials insist the figure is just over two thousand, while Amama cites nearly four thousand cases. Authorities have promised to complete their assessment of the remaining patients in the coming days, but association representatives believe the problem is much broader and requires systemic changes.
Conflict between patients and authorities
In recent weeks, tensions between the association and the regional government have continued to escalate. Amama’s leadership says they are being sidelined from key discussions and are being asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. This has led patients to question the transparency of the authorities’ actions and their willingness to acknowledge mistakes.
In response to these accusations, officials state that all members of the working groups received the same conditions and that confidentiality agreements are necessary to protect data. Nevertheless, Amama representatives are convinced that their organization is facing special pressure and that authorities are trying to limit public debate on the issue.
While both sides remain at an impasse, women affected by failures in the screening system continue to fight for their rights. If the proposed compensation packages seem insufficient, they plan to take legal action to seek justice and draw attention to the need for healthcare reform in the region.
