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More than 204,000 people in the Region of Murcia are currently waiting for healthcare, and the regional government is responding with an emergency injection of €20 million specifically aimed at cutting those queues. The announcement was made on Thursday by Regional President Fernando López Miras during the State of the Region debate in the Regional Assembly.

 

The figures behind the decision make for uncomfortable reading. According to December 2025 data from the Murcian Health Service, patients are waiting an average of 103 days for surgery, 89 days to see a specialist and 24 days for a diagnostic test.

 

At the end of last year, 34,197 people were waiting for an operation, 112,064 needed a specialist appointment and 58,619 were awaiting a medical test. The situation has been worsening for some time, with waiting lists having climbed steadily and surgery delays already topping 100 days earlier this year.

 

The picture has been further complicated by eight consecutive medical strikes over reforms to the Framework Statute, which led to the cancellation or postponement of more than 154,000 medical appointments across the region. The €20 million emergency allocation will sit alongside more than €110 million already planned for this year, with measures including extended evening clinics and staff reinforcement.

 

López Miras defended the region's overall healthcare record, stating that "the healthcare of all our citizens transcends budget constraints" and that Murcia spends €2,155 per inhabitant on public healthcare, above the national average. He also noted that Murcia's waiting times remain below the national average for both surgery and outpatient appointments.

 

The oncology plan, however, remains a source of frustration. Despite being flagged as imminent in last year's State of the Region debate, no concrete plan has materialised. López Miras spoke again about diagnosing cancer earlier and "offering better support to patients and families throughout the process, because in cancer, gaining time is gaining opportunities for life," but gave few specifics. There is also no update on the planned new oncology hospital at Arrixaca, announced six months ago with €7 million earmarked.

 

On a more positive note, Murcia is expanding its flu vaccination programme for children from age 9 up to age 11, adding around 16,000 more children and bringing the total to over 71,000. The shingles vaccination campaign will also extend to those aged 79 to 83, potentially preventing more than 4,000 cases. And from next year, newborn screening will include two additional conditions: spinal muscular atrophy and severe combined immunodeficiency, taking the total number of detectable diseases to 51 and keeping Murcia among the most advanced regions in Spain for early diagnosis.