The Human Rights Association of the Canary Islands (APDHC) has joined the claim of the Association of Oncohematological Families of Lanzatote (AFOL) regarding the new delay in the opening of the Radiotherapy service in Lanzarote.
The association points out that Lanzarote currently has, in the Oncology service at the Molina Orosa Hospital, a staff of 5 oncologists, as well as oncological surgical assistance in the surgery, gynecology, dermatology, ophthalmology, urology, traumatology and otolaryngology services. However, they criticize that, due to the delay in the opening of radiotherapy, "patients who require it must travel to Gran Canaria, with the personal, family and economic costs that this requires."
The APDHC recalls that since 2016 the AFOL association has been demanding the incorporation of radiotherapy into the portfolio of public services in Lanzarote, which they assure would be "very beneficial" for people suffering from this serious disease, in addition to contributing to the reduction of costs due to the referral of these patients to Gran Canaria.
However, the association points out that year after year its opening has been delayed for various reasons. They recall that the "radiotherapy bunker" has currently been built, which seemed to be the culmination of this process, but, as the manager of the health services of Lanzarote declared this week, "its opening will not take place until the third quarter of 2023."
"Again more than a year of extension", they criticize from the APDHC. "The current argument is the delay in the purchase of the linear accelerator, which was already budgeted, but which refers to be carried out with European funds, which is a complicated and long process," they add.
In addition, the association emphasizes that once purchased, "the bunker should also be adapted and provided with permits, which would presumably delay its inauguration to the date of the end of 2023."
The association also criticizes that this situation is added to that of "the existing delays in specialized medical care, with delays of more than a year for a first consultation in specialties such as traumatology, dermatology, gynecology, ophthalmology." In addition, they also point to the delay in "the performance of complementary diagnostic tests, which generates delays in the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, thus reducing the treatment options, quality of life and survival of this disease."
"All this leaves the population of Lanzarote in a serious situation of health inequity compared to the rest of the national territory, with a decrease in their health rights, which we consider an intolerable situation," they conclude from the APDHC.