The regional Chamber supports the PP's proposal for podiatrists to be integrated into Primary Care, with special attention to diabetic, geriatric, and children's feet.
The Parliament of the Canary Islands has given the green light this Wednesday, with the favourable vote of all groups, to the incorporation of podiatry services into the Canary Health Service (SCS). The initiative, presented by the Popular Parliamentary Group, urges the regional government to create the professional category of podiatrist and to integrate these specialists into Primary Care, prioritising care for diabetic feet, geriatric feet, and children's feet.
The popular deputy Jacob Qadri, a supporter of the proposal, emphasised that the measure does not respond to corporate interests but to a healthcare need. “Today we bring a well-studied, sensible, and profoundly useful proposal for thousands of Canarians,” he stated during his speech in the Chamber. Qadri recalled that, despite being a recognised health profession, registered podiatrists in the islands are still not part of the SCS teams, forcing many patients to delay care until problems worsen.
The deputy highlighted that more than 60% of foot pathologies could be resolved from Primary Care without the need for hospital referrals. This figure, he explained, would result in a decrease in healthcare pressure, a reduction in waiting lists, and a more efficient use of public resources. “When we talk about incorporating podiatrists into the healthcare system, we are not just talking about improving a service. We are talking about preventing suffering, preserving quality of life, and even saving lives,” he emphasised.
One of the most notable points of Qadri's intervention was the prevention of amputations in diabetic patients. He recalled that diabetic foot is one of the leading causes of amputation and that up to 85% of these interventions could be avoided with specialised follow-up and early treatment. The measure, therefore, aims to address a public health problem that particularly affects a growing population in the islands.
The deputy also focused on the elderly, whose autonomy can be compromised by seemingly minor injuries, and on children, as early detection of gait alterations or biomechanical problems prevents future complications. “Podiatry in Primary Care is a commitment to prevention and efficiency,” he insisted.
Qadri, who is a deputy for La Palma, took the opportunity to denounce the healthcare inequality suffered by the non-capital islands. “Those of us who live in La Palma, La Gomera, or El Hierro know perfectly well that access to certain specialists is not easy. Often, a consultation means taking a plane. Double insularity also becomes a double healthcare inequality,” he pointed out. Strengthening Primary Care with new professionals, he said, is a way to bring healthcare closer to those who live further away from the major hospitals.
The parliamentarian recalled that autonomous communities such as the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Community, and Andalusia have already incorporated podiatrists into their public health systems. “Canary Islands should not lag behind,” he warned. The approved initiative does not impose a closed model but requests the regional government to study the feasibility of creating the professional category and progressively incorporating these professionals where they provide the greatest benefit to patients.
The measure has been well received by the professional associations of podiatrists, who have been demanding their inclusion in the Canary public health system for years. Sector sources indicated that the Parliament's decision represents a first step, but now it is necessary for the Executive to specify the timelines and the implementation model. The regional government is expected to begin feasibility studies in the coming months, with the aim of having the first podiatrists start working in health centres before the end of the legislative term.
For patients, the news represents a step forward in accessibility to a service that until now was only available privately or in hospitals for severe cases. Podiatry care in Primary Care will allow for continuous monitoring of chronic pathologies such as diabetes, as well as early detection of problems in children and the elderly. The initiative, according to Qadri, seeks “a public healthcare system that offers us more coverage, more proximity, more efficiency, and more equality for all Canarians, regardless of where they live.”
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