Galicia reports rise in occupational diseases and healthcare budget disparities

Occupational diseases in Galicia increased by 34.9% during the first quarter, reaching a total of 552 cases, according to data from the regional Institute of Occupational Health and Safety. Of these cases, 72.6% required medical leave. The increase was driven largely by physical agents, which accounted for 459 cases, a 47.1% rise. In contrast, diseases caused by chemical agents decreased by nearly half. The service and industrial sectors reported the highest number of cases, with 286 and 210 respectively.

Regarding healthcare financing, the Galician public health service (Sergas) required an additional 644 million euros in 2025 to meet its expenses. The majority of this budget increase was directed toward hospital care, which received 579.3 million euros. In comparison, primary care received only 33.8 million euros in additional funding. This distribution means that for every euro added to primary care, 17 euros were allocated to hospitals, further widening the budgetary gap between the two sectors.