Andalucía Health Minister Resigns Amid Breast Cancer Screening Crisis; Interim Appointment and Recovery Plan Announced

Rocío Hernández, the Health Minister of Andalucía, resigned following a scandal involving significant failures in the breast cancer screening program that left over 2,000 women with inconclusive mammogram results. The majority of these cases, around 90%, were linked to the Hospital Virgen del Rocío in Seville. The crisis marked one of the worst for the Andalusian government this legislature and sparked widespread public protests and calls for accountability. President Juan Manuel Moreno accepted Hernández's resignation on October 8, acknowledging the need for systemic improvements and reaffirming the government's commitment to public healthcare.

Moreno unveiled a comprehensive plan including a 12 million euro investment to rectify the screening issues. This 'plan de choque' involves hiring 119 healthcare professionals to work seven days a week, aiming to contact affected women within the next eight weeks for necessary follow-ups. Additionally, screening protocols dating back to 2011 will be updated to ensure that all women receive timely and clear communication about their results.

Antonio Sanz, the Minister of the Presidency, was appointed as interim Health Minister to manage the urgent response. Sanz, a long-standing figure in the Andalusian government, has been tasked with implementing the recovery plan and addressing delays in cancer diagnosis. However, his appointment has faced criticism from union representatives demanding deeper reforms of the public healthcare system beyond personnel changes.

Opposition parties have called for a parliamentary investigation into the crisis, with protests organized by groups such as Amama stressing the need for transparency and accountability. Moreno emphasized the importance of leadership responsibility stating that "there are no excuses" for the lapses in such a critical health service.

The breast cancer screening program serves approximately half a million women annually in Andalucía and typically detects around 2,000 cases early, highlighting the gravity of the recent failures. The Andalusian government, which has increased its healthcare budget to nearly 16 billion euros with significant staff growth since 2019, aims to regain public trust through swift and thorough corrective action. Moreno is expected to provide further updates and legislative details in the Andalusian Parliament.