Ribera Salud Faces Backlash Over Alleged Unsafe Reuse of Single-Use Catheters
New revelations accuse Ribera Salud of illegally reusing single-use catheters in Valencian hospitals, stirring political and health safety concerns.
- • Internal emails reveal catheters were reused up to ten times to save costs.
- • Reusing single-use catheters poses serious infection risks and violates laws.
- • PSPV-PSOE demands investigation and accountability from the PP and Ribera Salud.
- • Whistleblower directors were dismissed after raising ethical concerns.
Key details
Ribera Salud has come under intense scrutiny following revelations that it ordered the reuse of single-use electrophysiology catheters up to ten times in public hospitals under its management, including the Hospital de Torrejón and the Vinalopó Hospital in Alicante. An internal email from October 2025 disclosed that this practice aimed to reduce costs, with potential savings exceeding €160,000, but raised serious health risks including infections.
According to internal communications, nursing staff reused these catheters without adequate training, violating Spanish and European regulations which clearly prohibit such practices. Although the regional health authority, Conselleria de Sanidad, performed inspections and found no current evidence of reuse, the email and whistleblower testimonies suggest past illegal activity took place. Ribera Salud denies any wrongdoing.
The controversy has sparked political uproar, with the PSPV-PSOE accusing the Partido Popular (PP) of prioritizing privatization and cost-cutting over patient safety. Yaissel Sánchez, PSPV-PSOE’s Health spokesperson in Les Corts, criticized the handling of the healthcare system and demanded an immediate, thorough investigation. Sánchez also announced plans to present evidence to the Fiscalía and urged for healthcare management to stay public and rigorously controlled.
This scandal follows previous disputes surrounding Ribera Salud’s management practices, further igniting debates about private involvement in Valencian public health. Directors who raised ethical concerns were reportedly dismissed, which has aggravated calls for accountability and transparency.
The case highlights a profound ethical and legal dilemma in maintaining safety standards in healthcare contracted out to private companies. Officials and political leaders now face mounting pressure to clarify these practices and safeguard public health.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
