Spanish authorities built a new hospital for those infected with Covid-19 in Madrid, the value of which went to 100 million euros.
The 80,000-square-foot building currently operates with only a fraction of it, exactly 240 beds. Meanwhile, regional authorities have registered only one-sixth of the required staff as volunteers. Meanwhile, despite modern technology, the hospital has been criticized by workers' unions.
The unions say the money should have gone to the existing public health system. Critics say the project was unnecessary as hospitalizations in Spain have been reduced. According to the media, the building is being described as a "€ 100 million hospital, without patients and staff".
"I am just sorry for the criticism. We are saving lives, "said Isabel Diaz Ayuso, regional president in Madrid for the first hospital of its kind in Europe.
The 14-day infection rate in the Madrid region dropped from 500+ cases per 100,000 inhabitants in October to 236 on Monday, which is below the national average. Spain has recorded more than 1.6 million cases of Covid-19 and over 45,000 deaths due to the virus.
Sources: Euronews
