The management of the pandemic in the Community of Madrid
Four years have passed since the covid pandemic and the so-called ‘protocols of shame’ in the Community of Madrid. It was based on the ‘protocols of shame’ of this community that thousands of elderly people died in Madrid’s nursing homes without receiving healthcare. According to experts, many of the people who died could have been saved (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
Pending debt claims
After four years, Madrid is still claiming from 187 people the outstanding debts of their relatives who died due to the poor management of the pandemic. The Ayuso government has refused to forgive these debts, despite requests from family associations and the opposition.
The response of the government of Ayuso
The newspaper El País has asked the Ayuso government about the total number of people who have received payment requests for outstanding debts. The government has responded that there is only data for payments that are pending, so the number of claims could be much higher than 187.
Exchange of criticism
When the first letters claiming the money from the residences were made public, some members of the Ayuso government tried to transfer responsibility to the Spanish government. The spokeswoman for the executive, Pilar Alegría, accused the Ayuso government of a lack of humanity, while the Minister of Family, Youth and Social Affairs, Ana Dávila, replied that the modification of the regulations corresponds to the government of Pedro Sanchez Lawyers consulted by El País deny Dávila’s excuse and point out that Madrid has the power to forgive debts (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The measure of grace
To forgive these debts, it is only necessary for the Governing Council, chaired by Ayuso, to decide to implement this measure. So far, however, this measure has not been approved, and officials are forced to send the claim letters to the heirs of the dead at the residences. Some relatives have already announced that they will not pay these debts.