ERC Alt Penedès is sounding the alarm over a "critical moment" for healthcare in the region. The Republican party points to shortcomings at the Alt Penedès Regional Hospital in Vilafranca, criticizing the lengthening waiting lists and the inadequacy of primary care services in the Penedès municipalities. In response, they urge the Generalitat de Catalunya to take action to ensure a basic, quality healthcare service for all citizens.
The party demands that the Department of Health implement an emergency plan to fill vacant family doctor and nursing positions in clinics with documented issues, particularly in locations such as Olesa de Bonesvalls, Torrelles de Foix, and Subirats. They also propose a guaranteed coverage system for professional absences and a review of shared clinic models to ensure a minimum daily service in sparsely populated areas. Additionally, they call for improvements in telephone assistance, incentives to attract healthcare professionals to rural areas, and the publication of data on coverage and impact to ensure transparency.
ERC opposes the centralization of services towards Vilafranca, arguing it jeopardizes territorial equity in a region with 27 municipalities. They believe concentrating resources weakens smaller towns and hinders equal access to services. They also lament the "economic strangulation" that, they claim, the Generalitat is imposing on the Regional Hospital, with austerity plans that threaten service reductions. They advocate for fair funding to ensure the hospital operates as a top-tier facility, highlighting the dedication of its staff.
The party has also denounced the increase in waiting lists at the Regional Hospital, criticizing the austerity policies promoted by the PSC government and noting their direct impact on people's lives. They call for increased resources from the Generalitat and for the reduction of these lists to be an immediate priority to guarantee quality healthcare.
ERC deputy Lluïsa Llop announced that the hospital's situation will be brought before the Parliament to focus political attention on the issue. Furthermore, initiatives will be undertaken in the region's municipalities to highlight the primary care collapse and demand urgent solutions, aiming to mobilize the territory to advocate for a Regional Hospital with the services and resources befitting a first-class center.
