Sharp rise in cancer mortality recorded in Andalusia after 2019. A significant increase in cancer mortality has been detected in Andalusia since 2019. The study points to a link with reduced access to oncology care. Regional authorities have not yet commented on the situation.
In Andalusia, the past six years have seen a marked increase in cancer-related deaths, coinciding with the rapid expansion of the private sector within the regional healthcare system. According to a study published in Gaceta Sanitaria, from 2019 to 2024 the region registered 3,701 more deaths from malignant tumors than would be expected based on Spain’s national averages. Of these, 1,297 were among women and 2,404 among men.
Study details
The authors link this increase to declining access, timeliness, and quality of oncological care. Special attention is given to cases of colorectal cancer in both sexes and to breast cancer among women. The study is based on official data from the National Institute of Statistics and highlights that, on average, Andalusia records 617 additional cancer deaths each year compared with the rest of the country.
Impact of changes in healthcare
Researchers note that the timing of the rise in mortality coincides with an active period of contracting with private clinics and is not coincidental. In their view, shifting resources from the public system to the private sector results in part of the population facing shortages of funding and staff in public institutions. This hampers early diagnosis and timely treatment, especially for those unable to afford private healthcare.
An example given is the crisis with the breast cancer screening program, when hundreds of women experienced delays in diagnosis. The authors emphasize that the problem is not limited to isolated failures, but points to systemic shortcomings in management and resource allocation.
Social and managerial factors
According to experts, the rise in cancer mortality in Andalusia is linked not only to funding, but also to the quality of healthcare management. They note that social determinants—such as education level, social status, gender, and ethnicity—also influence inequality in access to treatment. However, in recent years this gap, in their view, has grown significantly.
The study stresses that reducing excess mortality requires an independent assessment of the effectiveness of regional policies in the fight against cancer. This refers to a comprehensive evaluation—from epidemiological surveillance and prevention to the quality of specialized care and palliative services in the Andalusian healthcare system.
Context and response
The Andalusian Ministry of Health has not yet commented on the study's findings. The authors emphasize that their work is not related to any political campaign and was prepared long before the elections. Questions about the consequences of changes in the region's healthcare system remain relevant amid other high-profile developments, such as investigation into the death of Ilyas Tahiri at a juvenile center in Almería, which also raises questions about the quality and accessibility of public services.
