An Army medical plane left yesterday afternoon from Torrejón de Ardoz bound for Bangkok to rescue Alex García Galas, 36 years old. The pleas of the family of this Basque citizen, who fell ill in Thailand while there on vacation, have finally been answered by the Ministry of Defense. Now we have to trust that Alex will save his life.
Here are the facts. And now comes the question that has triggered the controversy in the most media case of the week: Has the Government of Spain done the right thing even when it is estimated that the transfer will exceed 220,000 euros?
Days ago, Alex ran out of resources and money to fend for himself. When his condition was bad but not as serious as now, he tried through insurance to return on a commercial plane, and the airline told him nanay. After a month in hospital, his situation in Bangkok had become medically and economically unsustainable for him. Let's see who can pay 2,500 euros per night in the ICU. Without the help of the State and only with crowdfunding from his neighbors in Basauri, both his stay in Thailand and his return to Spain were unviable.
There are those who question that "the State pays for the party" of a fatal vacation, they wonder where individual responsibility ends if one goes out sightseeing and the trip goes wrong, they criticize the fact that another alternative that is less burdensome for the public treasury has not been sought, or He even proposes that the State later recover the bill.
To begin with, Alex is a Spanish citizen who pays his country's taxes, not a YouTuber who moves to Andorra to escape from the treasury. In other words, he has the right to access the welfare state and the protection that it can give him, here and in Timbuktu. One of the functions of embassies is to provide protection and assistance to Spaniards. If we also add that in this case the dilemma pivots between life and death, they make it easier for me. It would not be understood, neither humanly nor politically, to abandon him to his fate.
In countries like Thailand, a serious medical setback can cost the tourist more than the trip. Bills for care exceeding 1,000 euros are common there. There are insurers that cover up to 500,000 euros in medical expenses due to illness or accident, and one million if the client requires medical transportation or repatriation. Alex had taken out insurance with coverage of 100,000 euros. He quickly burned through the credit due to the many setbacks and seeing his health worsen due to pancreatitis. Ergo, irresponsibility cannot be attributed to him.
Not even in his worst nightmares could he have imagined that a pleasure trip would end like the rosary of dawn. Put yourself in her shoes, reader, and you will clear up any doubts about what Minister Robles should do.
