Follana says he no longer owns the closed Oralis clinics in Elche and Almoradí

Dentist Mariano Follana says he no longer owns the Oralis dental clinics in Elche and Almoradí and did not decide to close them, a move that has left hundreds of patients with unfinished treatment.

In a statement reported by Radio Elche on 30 October, he says he sold the clinics and continued working there, but without responsibility or decision-making powers over their operation or closure.

Unfinished treatment and clinical records

The closures have created uncertainty among patients about the continuation of their dental care, with differing financial circumstances: some had paid for treatment in advance, while others still have financing commitments.

Follana says he tried to prevent the closures until the last moment and repeatedly told the insolvency administrators that continuity of treatment needed to be guaranteed for the patients concerned.

He also says he asked for patients to receive information about their clinical records, an issue he wants resolved alongside the restoration of dental care for the patients affected.

According to his account, the Elche and Almoradí clinics now belong to companies within Aestes, the group that owns the Oralis and Vivanta networks, and the decision to close them was taken by the insolvency administrators.

A proposed sale that was blocked

The dentist places the events within the financial crisis at Aestes, which has affected more than a hundred clinics across Spain, and describes a proposed transaction to sell 61 centres.

Under that proposal, he says, 656 jobs would have been retained and outstanding treatment completed for more than 30,000 patients, including those at clinics not directly included in the sale, such as Elche and Almoradí.

The transaction was blocked by disagreements over who should repay €40 million in public aid granted to the group, according to the information published by Radio Elche.

Follana expresses solidarity with patients and staff and calls for a solution that restores care and access to clinical records, after a professional association with both clinics lasting almost 40 years.