An analysis of Amnesty International on the latest available data health care costs in Spain and access to Primary Care. Two main points: in 2022 the public spending on healthcare decreased by 0.94% compared to 2021 and that, in 2023, they were only supported for the first 24 or 48 hours. 21.43% of application requests. 69.8% of candidates attended that is the reason for the lack of availability, they arrive, in most cases (more than 50%), to be helped after a week.
All international organizations, humanitarian organizations show, influence that the universe has the right to health, “is one of the most difficult things”: in 13 years, the amount of money has not only increased, but it has not yet reached the figure before the austerity measures, since it decreased by 0.02% compared to 2009.
“Without enough moneywithout prioritizing public health spending, and without independent communities bringing adequate and progressive funding into the public health system to the health of the Spanish people they will be more vulnerable,” he says. Teresa García del Velloresponsibility work on the economy, culture and social freedom in Amnesty International in Spain and report writer.
hospitals
The lack of funds spent on public health is particularly evident in Primary Care: in 2022 Spain has the same amount of money as was spent in 2009, and in 2022 there is a decrease compared to the previous year of 2.06% for the whole country. Seven autonomous regions have decreased, since 2009, the amount allocated to basic income: Aragón (-15.22%), Extremadura (-11.50%), Castilla y León (-11.48%), Castile-La Mancha (-9.78%), Galicia (-7.43%), Catalonia (-4.17%) and Community of Madrid (-0.01%).
In addition, unnecessary appointments cannot be made between the first 24 and 48 hours, “thereby contradicting the objectives established in 2019 in the technical plan” of the Primary approved by the public and the Ministry of Health, said Amnesty International. And of all of them they multiplied your waiting days after 48 hours compared to 2018. In 2018 the time was 4.77 and in 2023it stops at 9.12, that is, an increase in waiting times of four days in five years, it is mentioned. In which there has been a great increase in days and The Canary Islands, Andalusia and the Community of Madrid.
Where you live
Whether or not you will be treated soon at a hospital in Spain depends on other factors such as where you live, it is affected. On the subject from Madrid, For example, being the only region that has increased its income in 2022 compared to 2021 does not appear in the waiting time for Primary Care: and, together with Andalusia, one of the worst results in terms of the number of people selected. after 48 hours and 74%, concludes the report analyzed by Amnesty International.
Andalusia presents 78.08% of electors who attend after 48 hours. Another surprising case is that of the Canary Islands, since, despite the increase in healthcare costs, the number of electors attended within 24 and 48 hours since 2018 has not stopped decreasing, I put it. as a group that usually occurs after the first 48 hoursand 79.20%.
“Dangerous” data
By region, the report explains, Data is “dangerous”: All will pay less for public health in 2022 compared to 2021, except for the Community of Madrid, which increases by 2.04%. The four biggest losers, according to their research, are Castile-La Mancha (-6.36%), Extremadura (-3.32%), Aragón (-3.31%) and Navarra (-3.15%).
There are six regions that “spend less on health in 2022 than in 2009”, and, as a result, have not recovered from austerity measures: Castilla-La Mancha invests 11.17% less in 2022 than in 2009, followed by La Rioja (-7.17% ), Extremadura (-6.69%), Asturias (-5.46%); Galicia (-4.73%) and Aragon (-1.51%), will be added.
Government money
Amnesty International has analyzed and differences in the weight of public health spending they have government money. “The conclusion is the same: the gradual decrease in the amount of public spending on health is worrying. We can see a reduction in 2022 compared to 2019, and compared to 2021. Are we heading for another lost decade?” complains García del Vello.
Spain too they are lost in European comparisonsit’s too much. The 2023 report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows that, while the average GDP allocated to health costs in the EU is 11%, in our country it is 10.7% in 2021.
Good data
One of the few signs showing good resultsAccording to Amnesty International, this is the number of health workers per thousand people, which in 2022 increased slightly: 0.78 compared to 0.77 in 2021 at the national level. Also, the number of nursing staff increases slightly in 2022 compared to 2021 (0.7 vs. 0.66) at the national level.
In this review, which the organization has sent to all state and regional authorities, Amnesty International presents a number of recommendations and praises some of the good things that have been done such as the amendment of the Law on document. Universality of the National Health System, currently in the renovation phase in Congress. “But the various authorities still need to implement a number of measures. Among them, increase the amount of social assistance to match their responsibility to progress and prioritize and encourage investment in Primary Care,” it ends.
