Title: Ceuta on the Brink? Minister Denies Health System Collapse Amid Migrant Crisis

**Article:** Spain’s Health Minister, Mónica García, has firmly denied that the health system in the North African enclave of Ceuta has collapsed, despite a massive influx of migrants. Speaking during a visit to the city on Sunday, she confirmed that medical staff have treated 5,800 people over the last 15 days following the border crisis. The crisis began in late July when an estimated 70,000 people entered Ceuta. While García acknowledged a "humanitarian crisis" and a "risk to health," she insisted, "There is no health collapse." The Minister’s main priority, she stated, is providing shelter for the migrants to ensure "sanitary conditions." She pushed back against linking migration to disease, calling such associations "unfair and xenophobic," adding that migrants "do not bring diseases." García provided specific figures to support her claim. She noted that 1,149 people were treated on the first day alone, a number that has since dropped to an average of 300 per day. Currently, 28 migrants remain hospitalized. She highlighted that the hospital's capacity has been increased from 175 to 212 beds and that over 60 health professionals have been hired. "Half of the hospital is occupied. That is not a collapse," García said. She stressed that no surgeries or consultations have been cancelled and that care for the local population has not declined. While she admitted that some areas like emergency rooms are under "tension," she pointed out that, unlike during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not had to recall staff from vacation. However, the local president, Juan Jesús Vivas, painted a more dire picture, telling the minister, "Ceuta is in danger." He described the situation as "exceptionally critical" and said the population is "overwhelmed." The political opposition is also ramping up pressure. The Popular Party (PP) has called for Minister García's resignation, accusing her of being responsible for a "health collapse." PP official Elías Bendodo criticized the government's response, claiming emergency rooms are seeing 500 people a day and calling the hiring of additional staff a "joke." Despite the criticism, García maintains that the system has the capacity for higher demand and has not needed to request reinforcements from other regions. She insists the most urgent need is finding housing for the migrants to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.