The BOC publishes this Tuesday the 41.18% increase in compensation for accommodation and maintenance for patients and companions travelling outside their island of residence for health reasons. The measure, requested by PP deputy Jacob Qadri, particularly benefits non-capital islands.
The Official Bulletin of the Canary Islands published this Tuesday, July 14, the update of the health travel allowances between islands, which rise by 41.18%. Patients and their companions will now receive 146 euros per day, up from the previous 103 euros, to cover accommodation and maintenance when they need assistance outside their island of residence.
A claim for justice for non-capital islands
PP deputy for La Palma and health spokesperson, Jacob Qadri, described the measure as "a claim for justice for non-capital islands". In May 2025, Qadri brought to the Plenary of the Parliament of the Canary Islands a complaint about the insufficiency of allowances that had remained frozen since 2018, despite the significant increase in the cost of living.
"Today justice is done for thousands of Canarians who, in addition to facing a health problem, had to bear inadequately compensated expenses," said the popular deputy, who thanked the Ministry of Health for their sensitivity in addressing this demand.
Beneficiaries: La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
The measure particularly affects patients from La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, islands that are often forced to relocate their residents to Tenerife or Gran Canaria for specialised care. Qadri recalled that, until now, patients received barely 37 euros to cover maintenance when they had to stay overnight outside their island, and that reimbursements took months to be paid.
"If it is already a huge problem to have to travel between islands to see a doctor due to the lack of specialists, having to pay for those trips is the greatest absurdity," the parliamentarian denounced during his speech in 2025.
An advance, but not the final point
Qadri insisted that the update of the allowances "is an important advance, but it cannot be the final point". "The real solution lies in strengthening public health in non-capital islands, incorporating more specialists and avoiding trips that, in many cases, could be prevented if we had the necessary human resources," he stated.
For residents of peripheral islands, this increase represents an immediate economic relief. A family accompanying a patient to Tenerife for a week will now receive 1,022 euros in total, compared to the previous 721 euros. According to the deputy, the measure shows that "when the real problems of citizens are brought to Parliament and worked on rigorously, results are achieved."
The update takes effect upon its publication in the BOC, so patients and companions who are already displaced or will do so from now on can request the new amount. It is recommended to keep all expense receipts and submit the application through the usual channels of the Canary Islands Health Service.
You may also like
