Comunicación y gestión de Gobierno: análisis de la crisis de la hepatitis C en España

The hepatitis C crisis in Spain was discussed in both communication media and political discourse. Through an analysis of news content published in communication media and of parliamentary debates, we observed opposing arguments that exhibited different methods of framing and approaching the problem. On the one hand, communication media held political management responsible, mostly taking the national government to task for its response to the conflict and the demands of those most affected, who gave the issue its human face by talking about their illness. On the other hand, parliamentary debates revolved around three topics (treatment costs, delays, and political leadership) and went through two stages during the crisis (each stage corresponding to a different minister’s tenure). The government and the People’s Party emphasised management and advances in medical treatments, while opposition parties demanded greater speed in prescribing medicine and more comprehensive public explanations from the Health’s minister. The arrival of a new minister marked the beginning of a conciliatory stage, which led to a consensual and exhaustive plan to solve the hepatitis C crisis.