Mayor accused of acting like a ‘sales rep’
ORIHUELA mayor Emilio Bascuñana has been accused of putting the interests of private healthcare company Ribera Salud above those of Orihuela Costa residents.
Ribera Salud, which is owned by US-based multinational Centene corporation, manages the Torrevieja healthcare area, which includes Orihuela Costa.
The concession to manage the local department runs out in October next year and the Partido Popular (PP) in the Alicante province has come out in favour of extending the contract with the private company, while the coalition-run regional government has stated that it plans to return the zone to the public sector.
Socialist party (PSOE) spokeswoman in Orihuela, Carolina Gracia slammed the mayor for making public appearances with Ribera Salud managers and endorsing their campaign to continue running the healthcare zone.
“Sr Bascuñana is acting like a salesman for Ribera Salud rather than the mayor of Orihuela,” she stated. “It is disgraceful that he should be a linchpin in the strategy of this company to continue with the concession.”
Sra Gracia noted that Sr Bascuñana had taken part in the press conference given by Ribera Salud, in which they vowed to set up a sports medicine unit in Orihuela Costa – if they continue to manage the local health service.
“This is the second time that he has accompanied them when they have announced something that hasn’t been in their plans for the last 15 years,” added Sra Gracia.
She stated that since the private company has managed the area they ‘haven’t invested a cent in our municipality’.