Patients across Spain now supposed to be charged for hospital medicines

As from this month, all regions of Spain are supposed to charge non-admitted patients a proportion of the cost of the medicines dispensed to them at hospitals. So the idea is that if you go to A&E and get treated, but not admitted, on the way out you have to swipe the old credit card. But not if the prescription is for a cronical condition : 147 medicines for long term treatments are exempt. So Continue reading Patients across Spain now supposed to be charged for hospital medicines

How Jaen spent 120 million euros on a tram which never worked

Jaén has finally mothballed its tram system, which cost the city 120 million euros, never carried a paying passenger, and in fact, never ever started running past initial trials. And nobody has lost their job, or even been censored. Amazing, isn´t it? It took a decade to build it, ripping up streets and laying lines through the city. It was finally finished in 2011, and the PSOE / IU run city council started running tests, Continue reading How Jaen spent 120 million euros on a tram which never worked

Roquetas marina drops berth prices by 20%

Roquetas del Mar marina is the public port with the lowest occupation of berths in Andalusia, along with Puerto Umbria – last year it had an average occupation of just 21%. So the Agencia Pública de Puertos, the Andalusian government agency that runs the port, has announced a price drop of 20% for both marinas. So, if last year an annual 8m berth cost €2033, this year it’ll be just €1654. A 12m berth cost Continue reading Roquetas marina drops berth prices by 20%

Ricky Martin splits from partner, abandons Andalusia move plans

Just weeks after announcing plans to try to move to Andalusia for a few months, and maybe get married here, singer Ricky Martin has split from his long term partner, economist Carlos González Abella. The split was announced in a press release to a Costa Rican newspaper via their agent, who said the rupture had been a mutual and harmonious decision. Ricky had talked of coming to Andalusia to enjoy the Spanish life, and maybe Continue reading Ricky Martin splits from partner, abandons Andalusia move plans

Ortega Cano’s son denied bail as judge reckons he’s a flight risk…

Ortega Cano’s son has been denied bail until his trial as a judge reckons he’s likely to skip bail. A nasty piece of work, was the judge’s decision, “who habitually uses extreme violence to obtain his aims”. It’s a stunning turn around for the torero family, especially as the decision comes from a Seville court – Seville is well known for its “turn a blind eye” to all the little judicial scrapes by toreros and Continue reading Ortega Cano’s son denied bail as judge reckons he’s a flight risk…