Appeal Underway Over Exclusion of Local Health Provider
The Ajuntament de Tortosa is preparing a formal appeal against the exclusion of GESAT (Gestió Sanitària i Assistencial de les Terres de l’Ebre) from the new tender for ambulatory haemodialysis services across the Terres de l’Ebre region. GESAT manages healthcare services at the Hospital de la Santa Creu de Jesús. According to Mayor Mar Lleixà, the exclusion stemmed from documentation submitted late and incorrectly by the previous management team in late 2025. However, she stressed that the procurement process is not yet finalised and that no definitive resolution has been issued by CatSalut’s contracting board.
Legal and Political Dispute Over Future of Key Health Service
The contract, covering five years, has an estimated value of €29.7 million, approximately €5 million annually. Its loss would represent a significant financial blow to the hospital, which currently relies on these funds. Lleixà rejected claims by opposition group Junts per Tortosa that the service had been definitively lost, calling such statements premature and politically motivated. She confirmed that GESAT has 15 working days to file its appeal under the public procurement rules administered by CatSalut.
We are working on this appeal with confidence that procedures will be resolved in accordance with legality, technical criteria, and all guarantees required in public contracting.
, Mar Lleixà, Mayor of Tortosa Junts per Tortosa, led locally by Meritxell Roigé, had demanded an urgent extraordinary meeting of GESAT’s administrative council to examine the consequences. Roigé claimed the exclusion was due not to competitive bids but to administrative shortcomings in documentation.
Mayor Criticises Timing Amid Broader Political Context
Lleixà criticised the timing of the opposition’s public statements, noting they came hours before Roigé was due to testify in the national trial over the 'cas Efial' at the Audiència Nacional. She described the move as an attempt to create political confrontation rather than a responsible effort to resolve the issue collectively. The council maintains that the service’s continuity for patients with chronic kidney failure is not currently at risk and that all legal avenues remain open.
What this means for you: The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the Hospital de la Santa Creu de Jesús retains the contract to provide haemodialysis services. Patients are advised that no immediate changes to treatment are expected. Updates will be published via the official press release portal.
Primary sources: CatSalut, 46972838F, catsalut.gencat.cat. Reported by Redacció Ebredigital.cat, Nota de Premsa, Redacció Imagina Ràdio, ACN, imaginaradio.cat, modernetdigital.cat, elmon.cat, ona-latorre.cat, Aguaita, contractaciopublica.cat, rtve.es.
