Andalusia health controversy over breast cancer screening tender

The political group Adelante Andalucía has criticized the Junta de Andalucía regarding a tender for breast cancer screening services. The opposition claims the tender aims to privatize mammographies with a budget of over 13 million euros over four years, including a potential extension. However, the actual contract is valued at 9.15 million euros.

The Junta de Andalucía maintains that the contract is not for the outsourcing of medical interpretation, which remains the responsibility of the Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Instead, the tender is for mobile units, equipment, and technical staff to perform the examinations. This service is intended as a complement to the public system to ensure accessibility for women in remote rural areas who lack proximity to hospital centers.

Health Ministry sources stated that the screening program is carried out entirely within the public Andalusian system and noted that this type of mobile unit contracting began in 2016 during the previous socialist administration.