A citizen has contacted La Voz to report that it takes almost a month and a half to get an appointment with a primary care physician.
"Today, September 24, I accessed, through the application of the Canary Islands Health Service, a request for an appointment with my primary care physician at the Titerroy Health Center (screenshot attached). Fortunately, I have not had to use public healthcare too often, and in previous years, at most, you would find a wait of three days, or a maximum of a week, to get an appointment with your family doctor," explains the reader.
Furthermore, he points out that "what I have seen this time surpasses all ideas of what the health service of a minimally developed country should be. The first available appointment is for November 5, and there are barely a couple of slots left in the morning. Exactly six weeks for such basic care."
"I find it incredible that if someone has any symptoms of illness, to reach the first step, which is basic care from the family doctor, one has to wait on this island for almost a month and a half," he comments indignantly.
The resident of Arrecife asks himself, "all at the same time that political leaders of the Government of the Canary Islands talk about health improvements: what health improvement can there be if the most essential fails? Do they want us to clog up the emergency rooms? Who can endure a month and a half with an ailment without attention? What kind of public and universal healthcare is that which forces you to wait a month and a half? Do they want us all to go private?"
"Meanwhile, the Titerroy health center continues to receive all patients from entire neighborhoods that add up to 10,000 inhabitants, such as Argana, or from towns of similar size, which have barely a small clinic, such as Playa Honda. When will they seriously address these Health Centers, which still lack even projects?", he questions.
Finally, he states that "it is an outrage. 42 days without a primary care physician is third-world. Let's see if at some point, those who govern us, realize that the priority in a developed society is to have a doctor when needed and quality education. Here they are spending it all on parties and fireworks."
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