A heated debate erupted in the Andalusian parliament over the need to establish a commission to investigate issues in the breast cancer early detection system. Representatives of the ruling party refused to support the initiative proposed by opposition forces, arguing that all necessary clarifications had already been provided and that further discussion would only fuel political tensions ahead of the upcoming elections.
Opposition lawmakers, on the other hand, insist that many questions remain unanswered. They are concerned about how many women have actually suffered as a result of delays and errors in screening, why not everyone was informed of their results in a timely manner, and who is responsible for these failures. In their view, the identified breakdowns are just the tip of the iceberg, pointing to deeper problems within the regional healthcare system.
During the debate, accusations were leveled at the government for trying to conceal the scale of the problem and delay the investigation process. Representatives of left-wing parties and Vox argued that rejecting a parliamentary inquiry only deepens public distrust and fuels the spread of rumors. They also drew attention to the lack of transparency in the allocation of budget funds earmarked for screening programs and demanded explanations regarding discrepancies in official data on the number of those affected.
Escalating political tensions and public response
The issue of creating a commission has gained particular urgency amid the upcoming elections. The opposition claims that the authorities are trying to avoid public discussion of mistakes in order not to lose voters’ trust. At the same time, civil organizations representing the interests of women who faced delays in diagnosis report thousands of such cases, while official bodies cite significantly lower numbers.
In the coming weeks, parliament will consider a similar proposal from another political group. Meanwhile, public discontent is growing, and calls for transparency and accountability in healthcare are becoming increasingly louder. The authorities are being forced to respond to criticism, but so far are reluctant to make concessions or initiate additional investigations.
