This past Sunday, thousands of people concerned about the state of healthcare filled the streets of Andalusia’s major cities. Residents of the region came together to voice their dissatisfaction with how the authorities are managing healthcare and demanded urgent changes.
The demonstrations began in the morning in Almería, and were soon joined by other cities. In Seville, organizers estimated that about twenty thousand people joined the march. The crowd moved from San Bernardo station to the regional government headquarters — the San Telmo palace. Protesters carried signs and chanted slogans, calling for the return of quality healthcare and an end to the commercialization of the sector.
In Córdoba, around five thousand people gathered outside the local health department, demanding that access to and quality of medical services be protected. In Granada, protesters marched through the city center, reminding authorities that health should be a priority, not a commodity. In Huelva, demonstrators focused on issues with infrastructure: a lack of specialists, outdated hospitals, and constant delays in opening new facilities.
Healthcare crisis: causes and consequences
Discontent has been fueled by issues with the early breast cancer detection program. Many believe the authorities have failed to organize effective screening, and limited access to exams is just the tip of the iceberg. In Jaén, march participants pointed to the closures and downsizing of departments in local hospitals, as well as the persistent lack of fully equipped medical centers in some towns.
In Almería, protesters noted that most children in the province do not have an assigned pediatrician, while the number of doctors and nurses keeps dropping. On top of that, assaults on medical staff have sharply increased in recent years, deepening the staffing crisis.
Demands and political reaction
In Cádiz and Málaga, members of opposition parties joined the protests, accusing the regional authorities of deliberately weakening the public healthcare system. They claim funds that could go toward developing hospitals and clinics are being redirected to the private sector. People are demanding a return of funding to the state system and greater transparency in budget distribution.
Overall, the protests in Andalusia reflect growing distrust of the regional government and anxiety about the future of healthcare. Locals have made it clear they will not accept a worsening situation and are ready to fight for their right to quality treatment.
