The hard-right party Vox has called for Andalucia’s public health service to hand over data on foreign patients living in the region without legal status to the Policia Nacional.
The proposal was made by the party in the regional parliament and forms part of its broader push for tougher measures against irregular migration.
According to Vox, the regional government could provide police with details linked to around 30,000 health cards that the party claims are currently held by people living in Andalucia without legal residency.
The demand comes after Spain’s central government approved a Royal Decree guaranteeing access to public healthcare for foreigners without legal residence.
Vox argues that the measure removes barriers to healthcare access and could encourage more irregular migration.
Speaking at a press conference in the Andalucian parliament, Vox deputy spokesperson Rodrigo Alonso criticised the new law, claiming it allows migrants to obtain health cards simply by submitting a sworn declaration.
He warned the measure could increase pressure on Spain’s healthcare system.
‘This will have a direct impact on healthcare waiting lists, which are already too long and will only get worse,’ Alonso said.
The Vox representative argued that while emergency medical care should be provided to anyone who needs it, the public health system should not distribute healthcare cards broadly to people who have entered the country without authorisation.
‘Spain is not the hospital of the world,’ he said, adding that healthcare resources should prioritise Spanish citizens.
Alonso also criticised Andalucia’s regional president Juanma Moreno, accusing him of failing to provide police with information about the health cards in question.
While immigration policy is largely controlled by the national government, Vox argues that the regional administration manages the healthcare cards and could therefore help authorities identify people living in the region without legal status.
It’s just one of many demands that will be pushed by a more emboldened Vox following this year’s regional elections in June.
The party is forecast to perform well, with some polls putting them in second place and threatening to remove the incumbent Moreno’s absolute majority.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
