The general management of Muface had called on Thursday the unions to look into the situation of the entity after the proposal of private insurers, who did not participate in the call for tenders to provide health care to civil servants who opt for the concert in 2025 and 2026. But after two hours of meeting, the organizations expressed the same doubts and the same regret that the Ministry of Public Administration had left social agents aside in this process. “We have not received additional information, beyond that of these days,” admitted the head of Education of the UGT Servicios Públicos, Maribel Loranca, at the end of the meeting.
“The union has shown its discomfort with the position of the entity consisting of keeping the union organizations aside and not proposing a clear action plan,” declared the workers’ commissions in a press release at the end of the meeting. What all the sources consulted agree on is the message of tranquility that Muface tried to convey. In accordance with the note published on Tuesday, the general director of Muface, Myriam Pallarés, and the Secretary of State for the Civil Service, Clara Mapelli, insisted that coverage, under the same conditions, be guaranteed.
As the call for tenders for a new competition begins, the Executive is studying the possibility of extending the current contract with private insurers, which it could do unilaterally. “The government insists that it has sufficient mechanisms within the public procurement law to guarantee health care under the same conditions currently granted to members of mutual societies,” Loranca explained. “They said that there were ‘mechanisms'”, agrees the Independent and Civil Service Trade Union Center (CSIF), but “they did not specify them”.
Faced with explanations that it considers “insufficient” and “the attitude of the government” which “endangers the viability of this mutuality”, the CSIF is maintaining the demonstrations called for next Monday in front of the headquarters of government sub-delegations throughout the country. Spain and in front of the Ministry of Finance in Madrid. In addition, he announced an “information campaign” for the officials concerned and a series of contacts with all parliamentary groups. “All necessary pressure actions will be carried out,” they specify in the press release. Union sources do not rule out a strike.
CCOO asks “to avoid blackmail by insurers”
From CCOO, they demand “to know the real situation of the new call for tenders and the need for an exhaustive study of the health costs linked to the care of mutualists, to avoid the blackmail practiced by insurers”, indicate- they. Despite this “blackmail”, the union warns that it “is ready to call for mobilizations at the state level if there is no clear response and commitment from the mutual”.
For the moment, the UGT has not threatened mobilizations, even if it warns that it will maintain a “vigilant” attitude. This union distributes responsibilities. “We emphasize that the main objective is that mutual members benefit from the best possible health care, just like the rest of the citizens of this country. This is why we appeal to the efforts of the government and the social responsibility of health insurance companies. We are talking about a very sensitive issue and we understand that this is not a normal sector, in which the free market, supply and demand should not work alone,” Loranca said.
