Navarre health service faces record specialist waiting lists

The Navarre public health system (Osasunbidea) reported a new record in its traumatology waiting list, with 15,669 patients awaiting a first‑time consultation in July, surpassing the previous peak of 15,630 in August 2023. The overall specialist waiting list rose to 64,235 patients, the highest level since August 2025, while 10,234 patients remain on surgical waiting lists, 416 more than the previous month. Average waiting times also increased, reaching 83 days for a specialist appointment and 109 days for surgery, up from 79 days in June. The department of Health, led by Fernando Domínguez under the regional government of María Chivite, has struggled to reduce the queues despite a record budget of €1.561 billion for 2026. Opposition parties have called for urgent reforms, warning that the backlog could become a structural problem for Navarre's health system.