Spain's Doctors Strike Again: 175,000 Physicians Walk Out for the Third Time This Year

From April 27, more than 175,000 doctors across Spain have begun their third strike of the year. Doctors are demanding the adoption of a dedicated professional statute that reflects the specific nature of their work, and are rejecting the Framework Statute proposed by the Ministry of Health. The strike action will run until April 30, with further weeks of strikes planned for May 18–22 and June 15–19.

Negotiations between medical unions and the Ministry of Health have reached a deadlock. The strike committee — which brings together CESM, SMA, Metges de Catalunya, AMYTS, SME, and O'MEGA — accuses the ministry of failing to put forward any real proposals and is insisting on a separate document exclusively for doctors. Tensions have escalated to the point where the unions have called for the resignation of Health Minister Mónica García. She, in turn, has accused the medical unions of breaking agreements, stating that deals were reached on several occasions — including in December, at the Medical Profession Forum, and again last week — only for each one to be followed by a new strike.

In the Valencian Community, a regional strike has been called in addition to the national one. Local doctors are also demanding a reduction of the working week to 35 hours, higher pay for on-call shifts, a cap of 26–32 patients per day in outpatient consultations, and round-the-clock operation of urgent care and emergency departments to ease pressure on GP surgeries.

According to the region's Health Councillor Marciano Gómez, during just one week of the previous strike in March, around 200,000 people were unable to see a doctor or had their operations cancelled. A similar number of postponed appointments and procedures is expected this week.

Daily rallies outside medical facilities are planned as part of the protest. On April 29 at 6:00 PM, doctors will hold a sit-in at Plaza de la Reina in Valencia, after which they will march to the Delegación de Gobierno via the Palau de la Generalitat. Similar demonstrations will take place in other cities across the country.

The medical unions have apologised to patients, stressing that the strike is not directed against them, but is intended to "guarantee their safety and quality medical care."