Over half the Balearics would choose private health care

STAFF REPORTER MORE than half the population of the Balearic Islands would opt to have private rather than public healthcare if they were given the choice. A report published yestserday by a Central Government Health Ministry watchdog based on findings for 2008, showed that 55 percent of people living in the Islands would “go private” for day-to-day treatment if they had the choice with the remainder preferring the public service they already enjoy. With regard to emergencies or in the event of contracting a very serious medical condition, 48.4 percent said they would want private treatment both for themselves and for family members with 41.9 percent saying they would stay with the public service. For specialist treatment, 62.5 percent said they would prefer private treatment and only 33.1 percent confirmed they would stay with the regional health service, Ib-Salut.