Andorran Doctors' College Nominates Candidates for CASS Board Elections

The Col·legi de Metges (COMA) has put forward Mercè Avellanet for the salaried workers category and Manuel Carranza for self-employed workers and entrepreneurs in the upcoming Caixa Andorrana de la Seguretat Social (CASS) board elections on 17 June. The move reflects doctors' push for stronger input into CASS operations, driven by frustrations over administrative delays, reimbursement issues and coverage gaps.

Avellanet, head of physiotherapy and rehabilitation at the hospital and a Servei Andorrà d’Atenció Sanitària (SAAS) employee, will compete against a public-sector union slate including Salustià Chato of Sipaag and firefighter Miquel Àngel Adrán, as well as incumbents Montserrat Martínez and former candidate Neus Cervera. Further entrants remain possible before the 6 May deadline.

In the self-employed and entrepreneurs category, paediatric endocrinologist Carranza faces a confirmed Confederació Empresarial Andorrana (CEA) ticket, now officially announced with Daniel Armengol Bosch as lead candidate and Francesc Pallàs Viladomat as deputy. Armengol, president of Grup Heracles, former head of the Empresa Familiar Andorrana and general councillor from 2009 to 2015, offers expertise in construction, international business from his training at the Institut Superior de Comerç de París, strategic leadership and institutional roles. Pallàs, director general of Viladomat SAU and CEA vice-president, brings operational management skills from the services sector. The CEA presents the duo as a robust pairing with broad economic backing, aiming to hold the seat vacated by two-term incumbent Francesc Zamora. Small electrical services owner Àlex Lligé is also set to run.

COMA's candidates seek deeper insight into CASS workings, beyond the government's appointee, primary care physician Josep Rodríguez Picart. Doctors aim to pinpoint medical practices causing bottlenecks, streamline administrative processes, speed up reimbursements, advocate for coverage of recognised treatments and influence disciplinary matters through better dialogue.

No COMA entry appears in the retirees and pensioners category, where four candidates are confirmed ahead of 6 May: former Andorra la Vella councillor Pere Canturri, Unió d'Andorra affiliate Florenci Pla, ex-Andbank deputy director Josep García Nebot, and incumbent Lluís Sàmper, former president of the Andorran Federation of Associations for People with Disabilities.

Unió Sindical (USdA) secretary general Gabriel Ubach confirmed his group will not participate, dismissing board seats as "just a paycheck at month's end" under government sway favouring business priorities.