Torres, a member of the Corporation of Unidos por Lanzarote y La Graciosa and of the Insular Commission for Security, Emergencies and Health of the party, has shown his "deep concern" about the situation facing urgent and non-urgent medical transport in the Canary Islands, especially regarding the consequences this situation is having and may continue to have for Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
Torres considers it "inadmissible that the Government of the Canary Islands has allowed the regional contract to expire in December 2025 without the new contracting process being resolved in a timely and proper manner and that, after initiating a new procedure, it has ended up paralyzing it with only ten days left for the opening of the envelopes".
"We are talking about an essential service, not just any administrative file. Professionals have been waiting too long for resources, improvements, and solutions, while citizens continue to depend on a service that needs urgent renewal. How can one reach the end of a tender process and then paralyze it? Where was the Government's planning and foresight?" questions Torres.
The public sector contracts law cannot be applied at convenience
José Torres recalls that the regional contract was awarded in 2019 and that, according to available information, it had two extensions, corresponding to 2024 and 2025, ending in December of the latter year.
In this regard, he points out that Article 29 of Law 9/2017, on Public Sector Contracts, establishes the conditions for the duration and extension of contracts, including an exceptional possibility of up to nine months that requires specific circumstances and requirements, among them the publication of the new tender at least three months before the expiry of the original contract.
"I want to know what legal formula was used to guarantee the continuity of the service after December 2025, what reports justified that decision, and whether all legal requirements were met. Public procurement must respect the principles of legality, transparency, efficiency, and good administration. Solutions cannot be improvised when we are talking about a service that directly affects people's health," he states.
Torres also brings up the specific contracting of the ambulance service for La Graciosa, formalized in April 2025 for an amount of 1,105,765 euros.
In his opinion, it is "essential to clarify the coordination of this contract with the regional service that was in force, as well as to prove that there was no overlap of benefits or funding".
"When it came to promoting this contracting, there was the capacity to process it. However, when it was time to guarantee a new regional tender that responded to the needs of all territories, the contract's expiration was allowed to pass. We want explanations about the two procedures, about their respective objectives, and about the use of public resources," he adds.
The collective agreement cannot be an excuse to continue without solutions
Another aspect that Torres questions is that the paralysis of the new tender is justified by the situation of the sector's collective agreement.
The representative of Unidos por Lanzarote y La Graciosa recalls that collective bargaining has been pending resolution for years and that professionals continue to await answers regarding their working conditions.
"If the Government knew that the collective agreement was pending negotiation, why did it not take this circumstance into account before issuing the tender documents? The Administration says it does not have the capacity to directly resolve the negotiation between unions and employers' associations, but that cannot serve to disassociate itself from the consequences or to paralyze a procedure without offering a solution. Workers cannot be hostages to an endless negotiation," he states.
Torres demands that the specific reasons for the paralysis, the technical and legal reports that support it, and the planned schedule for a new tender be made public.
Lanzarote and La Graciosa cannot continue to receive insufficient answers
The member of the Insular Commission for Security, Emergencies, and Health considers the situation in Lanzarote and La Graciosa to be particularly worrying, where the needs for health transport and out-of-hospital care require planning in accordance with the population and geographical reality of both islands.
Among the issues he demands clarification on is the plan to incorporate a new sanitary resource in the northern area of the municipality of Haría.
"Is that really all the response that Lanzarote and La Graciosa deserve? When will the new resources be available? What planning exists to address the needs of all our municipalities? It is not enough to announce an additional resource. We must guarantee that the means are sufficient, that they are operational, and that they respond to the real needs of our population," he maintains.
Likewise, Torres directs an express demand to the Cabildo of Lanzarote and its political leaders. He considers that the island's main institution must firmly defend the interests of the citizens before the regional government, demand solutions, and use all institutional mechanisms at its disposal so that the needs of Lanzarote and La Graciosa are met.
"The Cabildo cannot limit itself to observing how an essential service is paralyzed while professionals and citizens wait. Its leaders have the political obligation to defend this island, demand explanations from their government colleagues in the Canary Islands, and call for immediate action. Institutional loyalty can never be above the defense of the interests of Lanzarote and La Graciosa," he declares.
"The health of citizens cannot become an announcement for the next elections"
Finally, José Torres warns that the needs of health transport "cannot become a succession of announcements, promises, or commitments that only gain prominence when an election approaches."
"We do not want 2027 to approach and then the rush, announcements, and photographs begin to say that everything is solved. Professionals need resources now. Citizens need guarantees now. And Lanzarote and La Graciosa need answers now. Health does not understand electoral calendars," he states.
Torres concludes by demanding transparency, institutional responsibility, and concrete actions from the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Lanzarote to resolve the situation.
"We are not talking about a political dispute, but about rights, safety, and healthcare. We are talking about workers who deserve respect and citizens who need a public service commensurate with their needs. Lanzarote and La Graciosa are not second-class territories, and we will not accept their needs continuing to be relegated to the background. Institutions are there to solve problems, not to accumulate excuses."
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