Afternoon health centre closures spark outrage

Residents and health workers in Malaga have expressed outrage over the afternoon closures of Malaga’s health centres this summer. As part of the summer health plan for the province, 44 of 69 health centers will be closed in afternoon hours. This decision is affecting Estepona and Fuengirola as well as Torremolinos.

Unions strongly oppose this measure, warning it risks causing significant problems due to the tripling of the Costa del Sol‘s population in the summer months. They claim that having fewer centers available in the evenings will result in overcrowding as well as longer waiting times. This will place an extra strain on emergency services already under pressure.

According to SATSE the nursing union the closures can’t be justified. The union describes it as a cost-cutting tactic that puts both the patient’s care and the health of healthcare workers at risk. They highlight specific areas such as Sabinillas and La Cala.

Juan Pedro Ruiz from the CSIF union expressed concern about the quality of healthcare. He highlighted that centers in popular tourist areas such as Torre del Mar and Benalmadena already struggled to meet demand. He said that in some places, waiting times for basic testing can be up to five-weeks.

Residents and workers alike have called on health authorities not to close the centers during summer afternoons when they are most busy, but rather keep them open. This will ensure that the right care is available at the time of greatest demand.