Spanish Doctors Vow to Escalate Strike After Summer, Threatening Indefinite Action in September

The strike committee of Spanish doctors has announced its intention to continue protests against the Ministry of Health's reform after the summer. The committee includes the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM), the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), Metges de Catalunya (MC), the Association of Doctors and Graduates of Medical Schools of Madrid (AMYTS), the Basque Medical Union (SME), and the Independent Galician Union of Doctors (O'MEGA).

On 15 June, healthcare workers began the fifth week of a nationwide strike. Outside the Ministry of Health building in Madrid, a demonstration took place that, according to the National Police's estimate, drew around 600 people.

According to the general secretary of the SIME union, José María Molero, continuing the approval procedure for the Framework Statute limits the possibility of changing a document that doctors disagree with. The participants in the demonstration repeated the now-familiar slogans about overwork, lack of sleep, and the risk of medical errors due to exhaustion.

The unions explained the decision to escalate the protest by the "complete absence of proposals from the ministry" and "zero progress" in the negotiations, as well as the department's intention to continue the procedure for approving the text of the reform. They noted that the summer months traditionally make the situation more difficult for medics due to staff shortages and a minimal number of replacements, which increases the workload and makes it harder to take a proper holiday.

The committee stated that if the situation does not change over the current five days of the strike, as well as in July and August, an indefinite strike format and other measures will be announced in September. The form of the indefinite strike will be confirmed only after the summer.

The unions are seeking the adoption of a separate document for doctors and healthcare workers in accordance with their training and duties; the creation of a special negotiating structure with real legal guarantees, independent of other negotiating bodies; the introduction of a 35-hour working week with recognition, payment, and pension accrual for all overtime hours; a fair professional classification that takes into account the level of training and clinical responsibility; and a flexible retirement model without penalties that takes into account the demanding nature of the medical profession.

Union representatives stressed that for months they had offered the ministry dialogue and requested meetings with both parliamentary groups and other departments affected by the reform, but none of their demands had been heard. The unions also expressed support for the growing number of medics refusing to do voluntary overtime, while expressing regret over the possible consequences of the strikes for patients.