Vigo Pain Unit sees 40% surge in consultations amid rising waiting lists

The Pain Unit at the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (Chuvi) has seen a significant surge in demand, with consultations increasing from 10,000 in 2024 to 14,000 in 2025. This 40% growth is attributed largely to an aging population and the chronic nature of the conditions treated.

Gustavo Illodo Miramontes, president of the Sociedade Galega da Dor e Coidados Paliativos (Sgador), reports that waiting times have escalated from three to six months to over a year. This delay is exacerbated by the impact of medical strikes and the refusal of staff to work overtime. While oncology and high-priority patients are prioritized, other patients face unacceptable delays for pain relief.

To address the crisis, medical professionals are calling on the Consellería de Sanidade to allow units to operate in the afternoons. Additionally, the Vigo area unit is seeking to implement new percutaneous techniques for vertebrogenic pain to provide non-invasive relief without requiring hospital admission.