Ribera Salud and Madrid Government Deny Allegations Amid Torrejón Hospital Scandal
Ribera Salud and Madrid's government reject accusations of prioritizing profit over care at Hospital de Torrejón, attributing controversy to political tension amid ongoing investigations and complaints.
- • Leaked audio from Ribera Salud's CEO sparked allegations of prioritizing profit over patient care.
- • Ribera Salud and Madrid Health Minister deny any wrongdoing and cite internal audits confirming good management.
- • Emmanuel de Geuser criticizes political tension as damaging Madrid's health model and considers legal action.
- • PSOE and Más Madrid have filed complaints accusing the hospital management of administrative crimes and patient risk.
- • Health Ministry requested detailed reports and promises action if malpractice is found; Gallart temporarily withdrawn from hospital management.
Key details
The controversy surrounding the management of the Hospital de Torrejón de Ardoz, run by private company Ribera Salud, has intensified following the release of leaked audio from CEO Pablo Gallart suggesting prioritization of profit over patient care. Gallart's remarks about increasing patient waitlists and focusing on profitable procedures spurred public outrage and political complaints. However, Ribera Salud's leadership and the Community of Madrid's Health Minister, Fátima Matute, have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Emmanuel de Geuser, CEO of Vivalto Santé and Ribera Salud, attended a meeting with Madrid's Sanidad department where he described the allegations as "serious and false accusations" and a product of "political tension" harming the region's health system, which he portrays as a success. De Geuser categorically denied issuing instructions to alter triage or misuse medical materials and highlighted an internal audit confirming the hospital's good management. He also revealed that after the controversy, Gallart has been temporarily relieved of his role managing the Torrejón hospital but retains his CEO position.
The Madrid government maintains that no evidence of medical negligence has been found during inspections and defends the hospital's quality of care and patient safety. Minister Matute framed the controversy as politically motivated, aimed at diverting attention from other scandals, and promised decisive action if any malpractice is uncovered. Both PSOE and Más Madrid political parties have filed complaints with the Madrid Prosecutor's Office, accusing Ribera Salud of placing economic interests above patient welfare and calling for investigations into potential patient harm.
Simultaneously, the Health Ministry has requested comprehensive reports covering the hospital's management over the past four years to ensure continued quality and safety. Meanwhile, Ribera Salud has indicated readiness to pursue legal measures against those spreading what it considers false accusations.
This ongoing dispute reflects the broader political tensions influencing healthcare debates in Madrid, with Ribera Salud defending its public-private management model while facing scrutiny amid the regional elections political climate.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
