British lobby against charges for 'free'healthcare

The Spanish Press has highlighted the campaigns of the British lobby group ‘Puma 22’ which is demanding universal and free health care for European citizens in the Valencia region.

Now that the Spanish regions have announced cuts in health spending, the association is making representations to the British Embassy and is threatening to go on the offensive in the U.K. - against the region of Valencia in particular.

The regional government recently modified the legislation, now obliging foreign European residents to pay a monthly fee in order that they can benefit from the Valencian Health System.

Román Jiménez, from Puma 22, said that free health care is a major consideration for many British retirees, and that the Valencia region could lose out greatly on residential tourism if a negative press campaign gets underway.