steviedeluxe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19682049

You lot had better come back to the UK if this is true.

cricketman

Paul Mason is excellent, but unfortunately knows nothing about Spain

It would be nice if a UK journalist could become an expert in Spain so they could actually explain the situation rather than just talking to shop workers and taxi drivers who speak English. The BBC Madrid correspondents dont normally even speak Spanish.

As for Salvados last night, excellent as always. If someone wants to understand the problems Spain has right now, this is the series to watch

The ex-ministor of industry was saying how he was powerless to do anything about the banks, and when he actually pressured them, he got told to stop by the party chairman because "they are untouchable"

paintermujer

Yes it appears to be true.

Dick Dasterdly

It was also my experience in the region a few months ago.

Certain medications which had always been widely and easily available I was told were no longer available and they tried to fob me off with what appeared to be some sort of overpriced herbal alternatives which they displayed on the counter.
I wondered at the time if they were simply pushing these simply as an alternative source of income to help make up their financial shortfall.

rspltd

I think you will find cricketman that the Madrdi BBC correspondent is Tom Burridge who speaks fluent Spanish and other languages. In the interview he spoke to a pharmacist. I suspect she probably knew more than you.

cricketman

Maybe they are better now then, I havent watched UK TV for 5 years

But when I did, the Madrid correspondents obviously didnt speak Spanish or have a clue

As for speaking to a pharmacist, well good, but then a chat with the person responsible for medicines in Valencia would have been nice. These kinds of people never appear in the English language interviews. Anyone can go and talk to a random pharmacist

jackytoo

The situation of pharmacists not being paid has been in the news for a while. Another problem is that Spain owes millions in unpaid debt to drug companies. A report last week said that teachers in some parts of Andalucía are having to buy their own materials.

PS Looked for link only to find the debt is billions!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/haydnsha...eoples-health/

agoreira

There are people all over the country not being paid, Spanish TV showed some in Algeciras that have yet to be paid this year yet.
Finally the government has increased it's defence budget to help pay off the €31,000 million they owe for tanks, aircraft etc. Next month for the first time the October 12 parade there will be no tanks, aircraft etc to save money.

rspltd

'I havent watched UK TV for 5 years. But when I did, the Madrid correspondents obviously didnt speak Spanish or have a clue'

Thanks for the clarification - will watch out for other outdated pearls of wisdom in the future.

Domino

Numerically Spain has more warships than the Royal Navy
but then it isnt how big so much as what you do with it

Domino

although I don't pay a great deal I do pay for my prescriptions as most if not all do.
so there is some money coming in, albeit small, although last Tuesday at 11am they were queueing out of the door to collect their prescriptions - must have been free day or something.

lynnxa

the pharmacists in Valencia have been on strike at least twice because of the debt

as for teachers - I'm not sure what supplies teh teachers need - except pens

us parents pay for everything else - textbooks, paper, librettas, pens, pencils, scissors, maths materials, art materials, including the paints, the brushes & paper

we also have to pay towards photocopying costs, if a teacher produces or uses any worksheets aside from the textbooks

last year every child had to take in a ream of copy paper as well............. the list goes on

bob_bob

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/fooc

Podcast link for cricketman as he watches no UK TV.