Spain's Insalud cuts hospital waiting lists:

The Spanish health agency, Insalud, has cut waiting times for hospital treatment from an average of 98 days in 1997 to 66 days in 1998. The agency reports that waiting times for hip and knee replacements dropped to 77 days, down from 313 days in the previous year, while waiting times for cataract operations fell by almost 70% to 72 days. Statistics for the number of people waiting more than six months for an operation showed the most spectacular drop of all - from 24,999 to just 530, while major outpatient surgery increased by 31% to 95,000 procedures in 1998. Insalud is the largest health authority in Spain, providing health services to 38% of the population.