Pablo Alborán Criticizes Andalusian Hospital Chaplain Funding

Spanish singer Pablo Alborán used his Instagram account on 6 August to denounce a new agreement signed by the Junta de Andalucía and the Catholic dioceses that allocates €1.85 million a year from the Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS) to provide religious chaplaincy in public hospitals. The four‑year deal, which could total €7.8 million, sparked Alborán’s demand that the money be redirected to hire more doctors and improve working conditions for existing health‑care staff.

The controversy has drawn criticism from secular groups such as Andalucía Laica and the Coordinadora de Mareas Blancas, who label the spending “unacceptable” amid long waiting lists and staff shortages. Regional President Juanma Moreno defended the pact as a way to guarantee spiritual assistance for patients who request it, while Alborán’s comments have amplified public debate over the balance between religious services and health‑care funding in Andalusia.