PSOE Decries Rejection of PNL for Robotic Surgery in Fuerteventura
The Parliament of the Canary Islands has rejected a Non‑Law Proposal (PNL) put forward by the Socialist Group to extend the Da Vinci robotic surgery system to hospitals on the non‑capital islands, including the General Hospital of Fuerteventura. The proposal aimed to advance equal access to high‑complexity health services, ensuring that cutting‑edge technology benefits all citizens regardless of where they live.
The Parliament did, however, approve the conduct of specific technical and economic studies for each hospital, assessing acquisition costs, maintenance, training, and surgical volume.
The initiative was defended by Manuel Hernández, the Socialist deputy for Fuerteventura, who highlighted that Canary public health has made a significant qualitative leap in recent years thanks to the adoption of advanced technologies that improve diagnostic precision and surgical outcomes.
“The Da Vinci system has become an essential tool in specialties such as urology, gynecology, general surgery, and otorhinolaryngology, placing the Canary Islands among the most advanced regions in robot‑assisted surgery said.
At present, the system is operational only in the university hospitals of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, where 889 robotic procedures were performed in 2024, a 900 % increase over previous years. According to Hernández, these figures demonstrate the model’s effectiveness and the Canary Health Service’s capacity to lead technological innovation.
Nevertheless, he stressed that a territorial gap remains.
“Patients from El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Fuerteventura do not have this equipment in their hospitals, forcing them to travel to the capital islands for surgery. This creates economic, social and emotional impacts that are neither fair nor sustainable,” he asserted.
The PNL proposed that the Canary Government set a timetable and prioritisation criteria for installing Da Vinci units on the non‑capital islands, accompanied by hospital‑specific technical and economic studies. It also called for the 2026 regional budget to allocate an initial line for acquisition, maintenance, and staff training, and to formalise agreements with universities and reference hospitals to ensure an effective and safe rollout.
Hernández insisted that robotic surgery is “not a luxury but a strategic public‑health investment.” Clinical studies show that the technology reduces blood loss, postoperative complications, and hospital stays, enabling faster patient recovery.
“In the medium term, this translates into significant savings for the health system by optimising resources and reducing inter‑island referrals,” he added.
The deputy also highlighted the educational and professional value of the measure:
“Equipping hospitals on the non‑capital islands with robotic surgery will help retain medical talent, foster specialisation, create research opportunities, and prevent the concentration of professionals in metropolitan areas.”
For the Socialist Group, extending robotic surgery is also a matter of equity and social cohesion.
“All island residents must have the right to the same quality of care. Geography should not determine the standard of health services, lamenting the rejection of the core content of the Non‑Law Proposal.