Galicia's public hospitals see 30% surge in surgery waiting lists, prompting protests and insurer tech push

Public health groups in Galicia report that the surgical waiting list grew by 30% between December 2019 and December 2025, rising from 32,874 to 46,775 patients. The average wait time is now 73.9 days, 27% longer than pre‑pandemic levels, with the longest waits in the Santiago‑Barbanza area (92 days). SOS Sanidade Pública has organized a protest for 4 June in front of the Ambulatorio Concepción Arenal in Santiago de Compostela, demanding more primary‑care resources, full hospital capacity, transparency and an end to private‑sector referrals.

The groups attribute the backlog to insufficient budgets, staff shortages, primary‑care overload, a recent SERGAS agreement with medical unions that ended exclusive contracts, and an indefinite strike that suspended hundreds of procedures. Meanwhile, private health insurers in Spain say they are stepping in to alleviate the pressure. Companies such as Asisa, DKV and Adeslas, serving 12.8 million people with €13.5 billion in premiums, are targeting specialties with the longest queues – trauma, mental health, cardiology, neurology and others – and are investing in digital tools, telemedicine and networked hospital care. Asisa noted, “Hay un crecimiento muy importante de la demanda en especialidades vinculadas al envejecimiento y la cronicidad.”