FEBRUARY 2019.
What is the place of Hospitales San Roque in Spain (in the healthcare landscape)?
Hospitales San Roque (HSR) is a small private hospital group with two hospitals located in the Canary Islands. We are offering a high level of quality of care and the latest Health Reputation Index reflects this. Hospitales San Roque stands out as the “private hospital with the the best reputation” in the Canary Islands and in the top-30 at national level. The Health Reputation Monitor is an independent survey that analyses the reputation of all Spanish healthcare institutions according to evaluations and assessments made by medical professionals, nurses, patient associations, journalists, etc.
What are the latest news of your group?
In the field of emergency care, we have expanded our services and now welcome for instance paediatric emergencies in our hospital in Maspalomas. From a strategic point of view, we are deepening our agreement with the Senegalese Ministry of Public Affairs to treat patients from that country. As for patient safety and quality of health care, we are beginning the evaluation to become the Joint Commission International accreditation. Finally, being aware of the importance of the relationships between the actors of health care, we have implemented a “Humanization Plan” in order to offer a healing environment to our patients.
What are your main concerns?
The politicization of healthcare. In Spain we have experienced actions such as the reversion of the “Ribera” model in the autonomous community of Valencia where Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the form of administrative concessions awarded to private providers have been terminated and reverted to direct public provision in March 2018. Ideological criteria have prevailed over those benefiting patients. If this ideological vision of health is imposed, the stability of the Spanish health system can be questioned, since public-private collaboration is an essential tool for it.
What are your projects/perspectives for the next years?
We plan to streamline the surgical block in our hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and we are considering an expansion project of the Maspalomas hospital. We will also continue to deepen our relationships with the African markets and implement a strategy for the development of health tourism.
In your opinion, how can a private group like Hospitales San Roque, best contribute to public health in your country?
We contribute to public health primarily because we help reducing all types of patient waiting times: to have a surgery, to become an appointment for a consultation and a diagnostic. In our case, being a local hospital rooted in its territory, I think that we also take part to the Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy.
