Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 12th February. (Europa Press) –
The Plenary Assembly of the Parliament of the Canary Islands has approved a request to the central government for the establishment of an emergency hospital in El Hierro. This measure aims to ensure adequate healthcare for the migrant population, whilst not neglecting the healthcare needs of the residents of the island.
With Vox abstaining and PSOE opposing, the proposal for the Law (NLP) also includes the visitation of Health and Migration Ministers, Mónica García and Elma Sáiz respectively, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to assess the situation in person. Furthermore, it seeks to address the financial burden of healthcare for migrants, which totals €25,941,202.93 – with El Hierro alone accounting for over two million from this amount.
The spokesperson for the Mixed Group, Raúl Acosta (AHI), highlighted that El Hierro is served by only ten doctors for its 11,000 residents, alongside a surge of migrants, including 500 who arrived in a single day last December.
He noted that the locals cannot simply accept being the primary arrival point on the Canarian migration route, stating that the La Restinga dock is essentially a “permanent eyesore” for initial receptions. “We are facing a critical situation,” he remarked.
For this reason, he has endorsed the establishment of an emergency hospital to ensure that healthcare for the resident population is not compromised, emphasising that the State bears the responsibility for primary care, hence it must finance this and not draw on the resources of the Canarian Health Service.
He also criticised the socialists for their “erratic” stance, warning that it will rest on their “conscience” if there are no solutions as emergencies escalate during the ‘descent of the Virgen de los Reyes’.
Yone Caraballo (NC-BC) stated that the migration crisis “is not a fleeting issue”, as the Canary Islands are adjacent to Africa and its inhabitants “aspire to a better life”, thus calling for increased resources from the State and the EU and enhanced staffing for health services. “We will continue to encounter this humanitarian crisis,” he asserted.
Lucía Fuentes (PSOE) acknowledged the “critical situation” in Canary health services and expressed the desire for the “state government to act on behalf of its citizens.”
Nicasio Galván of Vox attributed the health situation in El Hierro to the “open-door policy” advocated by Merkel and von der Leyen regarding Syrian refugees, stressing that this “is only the beginning of what could occur.”
He claimed that it is “common sense” to support the immediate deportation of irregular immigrants, advocating for regular emigration with intentions of integration.
Vox: “Populists, Demagogues and Unworthy”
“You are populists, some demagogues, and are unworthy. Yes, your policies here, in the rest of Spain, and across Europe, are responsible for deaths at sea, the enrichment of human trafficking mafias, and poverty in both origin and destination countries,” he stated to the MPs.
Jesús Ramos (ASG) described the desire to bolster health services in El Hierro as “logical” given the increasing migratory pressure, asserting that sympathy is needed to address the challenges faced by the island.
Juan Manuel García Casañas (PP) remarked that the social and economic circumstances in El Hierro “are far from ideal,” highlighting a “humanitarian crisis” stemming from a “lack of border control,” which adversely impacts healthcare provision for residents. “The staff is overwhelmed,” he noted.
Vidina Espino from the nationalist group indicated that the island of El Hierro “is overwhelmed” with individuals “risking their lives at sea,” with a single hospital that is “overburdened.” She therefore understands that the central government needs to establish an emergency hospital and take responsibility for the healthcare costs in the Canary Islands.
