The director of the Lanzarote Health area, Erasmo García, has described the criticisms made in recent days by unions, political parties and associations as "populist", "twisted" and "even stale" following the file opened against Dr. Dulce María Reyes, after she publicly denounced the lack of resources at the Molina Orosa Hospital for the early detection of colon cancer.
“I want to explain and deny this situation, because I understand that a social alarm has been created that does not adhere to reality,” Erasmo García pointed out on Radio Lanzarote – Onda Cero, assuring that “there is no disciplinary file opened against this worker”. However, as La Voz de Lanzarote reported last week, what does exist is an informative file. And in the resolution ordering the opening of that file, express reference is made to the interview granted by this doctor and even to the photograph that accompanied the news, indicating that she did not have “authorization” for it.
“I want to make it clear that freedom of expression for professionals is not restricted at all, proof of this is that there have been other professionals who have done other interviews and absolutely nothing happens. We'll see what has happened with this specific issue, but it's not because they have made statements,” the director of the Health Area has defended, however, just after assuring that he does not know “the reason why these proceedings have been opened.”
“Some have dared to ask for my resignation”
“In a matter as sensitive as healthcare, I believe this story should be treated differently. I believe that it has been used in a populist way by people both new and old. I ask for seriousness and responsibility with respect to this issue,” Erasmo García has demanded. In particular, he referred to the spokesperson for Somos Lanzarote in the Cabildo, Tomas López, and the general secretary of the PSOE on the island, María Dolores Corujo, pointing out that “first you have to inform yourself, prepare the topics and study the issues, before releasing a series of questions that have seemed to me in a twisted way and I would even say stale in the current situations.”
Both Somos and the PSOE sent statements criticizing the opening of this file, and in the case of Somos Lanzarote, they even requested the resignation of Erasmo García. “I want to make it clear that this type of procedure is neither initiated nor resolved by the management of the Lanzarote Health Area, much less by the director of the area who is speaking to you,” García stressed, questioning that “some have dared” to ask for his resignation. “When you don't have arguments, you say these absurdities and some other things,” he reproached.
Although he assures that he does not know the reasons that have led to opening this file, the director of the Health area maintains that he did get “in contact with the Management”, which was the one who signed the resolution. “They have not been able to reveal to me what the reasons or issues that need to be clarified are due to the sensitivity of the issue, since this must also be confidential matter,” he stated, to later insist that for the moment “there is no disciplinary file open.”
“It is true that there are a series of issues that must be clarified and then information has been requested to collect a series of information, which is a story between the Management and the worker and that, of course, this area director does not have to enter or interfere in internal staff organization issues,” he pointed out. According to him, “that is an issue that happens in all administrations, councils, town halls and others. Based on some issues, the parties are given a hearing so that they can explain what has happened. As simple as that.”
