Bilbao (EFE).- Thousands of people have demonstrated in the Basque Country to denounce the “deliberate attack and dismantling” of Osakidetza.
Three marches have toured the Basque capitals, called by the SATSE, ELA, LAB, SME, CCOO and UGT unions, together with social organizations such as the Pensioners Movement, Osakidetza workers’ assemblies and representatives of EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Podemos, to denounce ” the premeditated deterioration” of health services.
Bilbao march
The one in Bilbao has started from the Gran Vía at the height of the headquarters of the Basque Government and has ended before the territorial delegation of the Department of Health, in the Alameda de Rekalde, after touring the center of the city chanting slogans in demand for health public and quality Jasone Agirre and Iker Casanova from EH Bildu and Miren Gorrotxagi from Elkarrekin Podemos have participated in it.
Before the march, the general secretary of the Satse nursing union in Euskadi, Amaia Mayor, has warned the Health Department that the mobilizations will continue as long as there is no change in attitude, the Osakidetza Sector Table is unblocked and more resources are allocated human resources and more investment in public health.
“It is essential to defend the treasure of Basque society: public health”, he has warned that “although the Department of Health denies it, the public is noticing the loss of health services and the situation of the personnel”, he has affirmed .
The representative of ELA Esther Saavedra has criticized “the lack of political will to solve the problems of Osakidetza.”
“There is much talk about the shortage of doctors” but, in reality, “behind it is the precariousness of working conditions”, he assured, while criticizing the political decisions that favor the contracting of medical insurance.
“Bassed template”
From LAB, Ana Tere Álvarez has denounced that “a progressive dismantling of our healthcare has been orchestrated so that it does not work, worsening the conditions of its staff and outsourcing services”, compared to what has required reorganizing primary care, providing more resources to Osakidetza and that “mental health becomes a priority once and for all”.
CCOO has insisted that “the workforce is being mistreated and despised by the Ministry” since thousands of workers have been forced to participate in a new OPE, without having resolved the previous one.
For UGT, the mobilization reflects “the weariness” of the workforce that every day works “with more workload and high rates of temporary employment” and that “to top it off” receives “contempt” from the Osakidetza management that does not want to negotiate, but they are also “the reflection of the concern of the Basque citizens” who perceive the deterioration” of the health services.
Demonstration in San Sebastian
In San Sebastián, thousands of people have responded to the unions’ appeal and have staged a massive demonstration in favor of public health.
The march started from the Boulevard behind a banner with the slogans “Save Osakidetza. No to the dismantling of public health”, signed by all the convening union centrals.
After it, different banners alluding to specific situations that affect public health in Gipuzkoa, such as primary care, the Oncology Institute, the OSI Bidasoa or the Tolosa hospital, among others, have followed one another.
Broad support from pensioners
Among the protesters was the general coordinator of LAB, Garbiñe Aranburu, and political representatives such as the candidate for deputy general of Gipuzkoa for EH Bildu, Maddalen Iriarte, the abertzale aspirant to the mayor of San Sebastián, Juan Karlos Izagirre, the coordinator of Podemos Euskadi, Pilar Garrido, and the candidate for mayor of San Sebastián for the purple formation, Víctor Lasa, among others.
The Euskal Herria pensioners’ movement has participated in these marches to denounce waiting lists that “have skyrocketed” and to vindicate the right of citizens to “be attended by quality public healthcare”. EFE
