A new controversy over budget allocation has erupted in Spain’s capital region. The autonomous government has decided to allocate 33 million euros to Torrejón Hospital (Torrejón), which is managed by the private company Quirón. Officially, this move was justified as necessary to “restore economic balance” in light of changing conditions in healthcare.
However, behind this formal justification, many see more than a mere adjustment of financial flows. In reality, it amounts to a kind of support for private entities managing public healthcare facilities. This practice has already been the subject of court cases, and previously, Madrid courts have stated that compensation is only permissible in cases of serious and long-term imbalances, not due to temporary difficulties or decreased income.
Judicial authorities have previously emphasized that during the pandemic, hospitals did not cease operating entirely, meaning there were no grounds for such large-scale payments. Furthermore, economic balance should be assessed over the whole duration of the contract, not just for specific periods. Nevertheless, regional authorities continue to use the compensation mechanism to cover ordinary expenses and losses of private operators, effectively absolving them of any risk.
Official government representatives are attempting to justify their position with legal nuances, but experts note that such payments require truly substantial grounds, which are not evident in this case. As a result, private companies are guaranteed profits at the expense of the budget, while all financial risks are borne by taxpayers. This has led to discontent among residents and professionals, who fear that the healthcare system is becoming a source of profit for businesses rather than a means of protecting citizens’ health.
