The Health Commission of the Parliament of the Canary Islands gave its unanimous support this Tuesday to the Socialist Group's proposal, which urges the Government of the Canary Islands to implement a series of measures aimed at improving care for people affected by Behçet's disease.
The PSOE spokesperson on health matters, Marcos Hernández, explains that "this initiative, which is developed within the framework of the Socialist Group's objective of visualizing this and all rare diseases, is aimed at establishing a training program on Behçet's disease for professionals of the Canary Islands Health Service in order to improve and shorten the disease diagnosis process".
As he recalls, Behçet's disease is a rare autoimmune disease. Although of unknown origin, there is scientific evidence pointing to a genetic predisposition to suffer from it, affecting around 6 people out of every 100,000. Those who suffer from it manifest a chronic multisystemic vasculitis that produces inflammation of the blood vessels. He indicates that in the Canary Islands, estimates suggest that more than a hundred people may suffer from this disease.
The approved non-legal proposition requests the activation of an action protocol, two multidisciplinary reference units within the scope of the Autonomous Community with ramifications in each of the islands, the establishment of specialized rheumatological care for the disease in the non-capital islands, or the incorporation within the competence framework of the Canarian Executive of the measures and actions necessary to provide coverage to Behçet's patients in the areas of health, disability and dependency.
Likewise, an increase in funds allocated to medical research in the Canary Islands is requested, with special emphasis on diseases referred to as rare, the development of a multi-year awareness and information campaign, demanding that the Government of Spain review the disability and incapacity assessment system in order to correctly incorporate Behçet's disease into the scales, and asking the State to fully comply with the motion approved by the unanimity of the Senate groups on April 19, 2017.
Marcos Hernández points out that "the diagnosis of this disease, due to its varied symptomatology and complexity, is difficult, so it is crucial in the lives of patients to increase the levels of training of healthcare personnel, as well as to design the necessary protocols to optimize resources and time in diagnosis".
The PSOE deputy recalls that in the Canary Islands, those affected by the disease suffer double discrimination derived from the island status. "Patients residing in the non-capital islands have to face the lack of medical resources, a factor that further lengthens the already extensive process of diagnosis and treatment," he explains.
Add La Voz de Lanzarote as a preferred Google source.
Stay informed with the latest current news.