Thousands of people demonstrate in Madrid against Ayuso's health policy
Thousands protested in Madrid against the healthcare policies of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, demanding an end to service privatization.
On Sunday, thousands of people gathered in Madrid to protest against the healthcare policies of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid. The protest was organized by trade unions and local community associations, highlighting growing discontent with the ongoing privatization of healthcare services in the region. Estimates of the crowd size varied significantly, with the local government claiming around 8,000 participants, while organizers cited figures as high as 80,000. The demonstrators marched from the Plaza de Neptuno to the Puerta del Sol, where they expressed their demands with strong slogans condemning the current state of public healthcare. One of the chants, "Poor healthcare, either you have money or you go to the other neighborhood," reflects a sentiment that the increasing privatization is creating a two-tier healthcare system, favoring those who can afford to pay for better services. The protesters called for reinforcement of primary healthcare services and greater support for the healthcare system, urging the regional government to halt its privatization efforts. This demonstration not only underscores the immediate concerns regarding public health accessibility but also signals a potential political challenge for Ayuso's administration as public dissatisfaction continues to mount over her government's management of healthcare services in Madrid.