The regional government attributes the delays to a computer system fault, but organizations like the Spanish Breast Cancer Society blame austerity measures and privatization policies under the conservative Partido Popular for systemic deficiencies.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the regional government for prioritizing private healthcare interests amid the scandal, adding political pressure for accountability.

The regional health service has committed to reviewing all mammogram results from the past three years and contacting affected women to clarify their medical status, prioritizing those impacted.

The scandal has sparked political controversy, with calls for the resignation of regional health minister Rocio Hernandez and criticism from patient advocacy groups like Amama, which expressed feelings of being ignored during meetings.

Initially, authorities justified the delay in informing women as a measure to prevent unnecessary anxiety, but critics argue that lack of information hampers proper monitoring and treatment.

Women’s advocacy group Amama plans to sue the regional government over the failure to inform women about their results, emphasizing ongoing risks of living with undiagnosed cancer.

Authorities estimate that around 2% of the cases may have resulted in actual breast cancer diagnoses, but more than 50 women have been diagnosed privately due to delays.

The scandal underscores issues within Spain’s decentralized healthcare system, highlighting broader problems of underfunding and privatization in Andalusia.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Spain, accounting for over 15% of female cancer deaths, with more than 35,000 diagnoses and approximately 6,500 deaths last year.

Spain is embroiled in a major healthcare scandal in Andalusia, where authorities failed to inform around 2,000 women of their breast cancer screening results, raising fears that some cases may have gone undiagnosed.

The controversy has escalated to the national level, prompting Health Minister Monica García to demand all regions submit comprehensive cancer screening data to improve oversight and accountability.

In response, Andalusia’s regional leader Juanma Moreno announced the resignation of his health minister and pledged to bolster breast cancer units and launch a thorough investigation into the failures.

Experts and women’s advocacy groups criticize systemic issues within Spain’s healthcare system, including insufficient radiology resources and management failures, with some contemplating legal action and criminal investigations.