Canary Islands Health Ministry Adjusts Services for Papal Visit

The Canary Islands Ministry of Health has released a contingency plan to manage healthcare services during Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit. To ensure the public health system remains functional despite major traffic and mobility restrictions in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, authorities are adjusting patient services for June 11 and 12.

The plan focuses on Primary Care and non-urgent transport. In areas heavily affected by security closures, the health service will prioritize phone consultations over in-person appointments. Affected patients will be notified individually. In Tenerife, 14 health centers will operate under modified schedules on June 12 to account for the Pope's presence on the island.

Hospitals will continue routine operations, but transport logistics will change. The Canary Islands Emergency Service is suspending non-urgent medical transport for routine outpatient appointments and rehabilitation sessions on those dates to keep roads clear for security. However, this does not apply to patients requiring life-sustaining care. Treatments such as hemodialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and onco-hematology will continue as scheduled. Inter-hospital transfers and patient discharges will also proceed, though officials warn that the papal motorcade may cause occasional delays.

This special arrangement aims to balance public safety with the constitutional right to healthcare. By coordinating emergency services and care providers, officials hope to ensure that the event does not disrupt essential medical treatment for residents, particularly those with chronic conditions.