The Madrid region is facing a scandal over hospitals managed by the private network Quirónsalud. Since 2019, MRI scans have been scheduled in the middle of the night — some patients arrive for scans as early as four in the morning. This practice has sparked an uproar among residents and experts: while some enjoy swift access to diagnostics, others are left waiting for months.
At the Villalba hospital, up to 26 MRI scans are performed overnight, with patients scheduled every twenty minutes. The entire process is highly automated: patients see staff only in the diagnostics room. For Quirónsalud, this is profitable — the region pays between €130 and €199 for each procedure, depending on its complexity. But for local residents, the situation is different: they sometimes wait a year or more for consultations and tests.
Why is the waiting list moving so slowly?
The option to freely choose a hospital, introduced under Esperanza Aguirre, allowed patients to sign up wherever care was faster. As a result, many now prefer private centers with shorter wait times. Quirónsalud actively attracts these ‘external’ patients, putting a strain on the system and fueling frustration among local residents who cannot get appointments in their own area.
In 2023, Quirónsalud clinics in Madrid treated tens of thousands of patients from other regions. In 2024, authorities stopped publishing these figures, fueling suspicions of a lack of transparency and possible collusion. Unions claim that visiting patients are prioritized, while working conditions for staff show no improvement. Officials insist that local residents are not being sidelined, but public trust in these assurances is waning.
Side effects: parking woes, cancellations, and fatigue
The system has failed in other areas as well. Hospital parking lots are overcrowded, while appointment cancellations have become more frequent—sometimes without immediate alternatives. Patients scheduled for late-night exams often accept them rather than risk even longer waits. For many, it’s the only chance to get care, even if it’s at an inconvenient hour.
All this points to a deeper problem: the public healthcare system cannot cope with the influx of patients, and private providers are taking advantage to boost profits. As a result, people living near hospitals struggle to get timely appointments. A system meant to provide equal access to care is starting to feel like a lottery—and not everyone wins.
