Share buyout a 'serious breach'

DISCIPLINARY proceedings have started against Denia hospital’s management company over its major share buyout as a result of a work inspectorate inquiry.

Staff have long expressed their concerns that the change in ownership without warning or consulting them or the regional health authority was illegal.

Inspector Luis Nogueira de la Muela stated that the workers’ representatives who wrote to him are ‘correct’ in their accusations of breach of the right to information, right of audience and of consultation with union leaders.

The privatised district health service was run by the company Marina Salud, of which German sickness insurers DKV held 65% of the shares.

Ribera Salud, with 35% of the capital, is in turn owned by the American healthcare giant, Centene Corporation.

DKV had reportedly made no secret of the fact it considered the Marina Alta health service to be loss-making and wanted out, according to media sources in recent years. Back in August, Ribera Salud acquired DKV's holding, and is now the 100% owner of the Denia area health department.

In a press release at the time, Ribera Salud stressed it was not under any obligation to seek approval from the regional health authority before signing the deal, since its concession contract was incepted several years before a law amendment requiring them to do so.

The company stressed staff working conditions and pay would not change – at least, not to their detriment.

Sr Nogueira disagrees, and considers Marina Salud has committed a ‘serious breach’.

The staff committee and union representatives had the right to consider the decision at length and submit their response in writing before the share operation took place.

Instead, the firm simply sent an email to these reps on August 24 announcing that the buyout had already happened.