Doctors Strike Again: Calls for Better Working Conditions in the National Health System

In a significant escalation of ongoing tensions, doctors across Spain are preparing for a second day of strike this Friday, as they vehemently reject a draft proposal from the Ministry of Health that aims to reform the Framework Statute governing the working conditions of healthcare personnel. The negotiation process has hit a stalemate, igniting widespread discontent among medical professionals. Organized by the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM) and the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), the strike has garnered support from the Forum of the Medical Profession, the Medical Association, and various other organizations. In addition to the strike, regional unions are mobilizing gatherings in dozens of cities nationwide, which will culminate in a major demonstration in Madrid, starting from the Congress of Deputies and proceeding to the Ministry of Health with backing from the Madrid association, Amyts. The striking medical professionals are demanding a specific statute and negotiation framework tailored solely for doctors, distinct from other workers in the National Health System (SNS). They are calling for a proper professional classification and regulations regarding working hours that recognize their need for rest and promote work-life balance. Additionally, they insist that on-call shifts should contribute to retirement, among several other critical demands. The Ministry of Health, however, has characterized the proposal by CESM and SMA to develop an exclusive text for doctors—where on-call shifts and emergency care would be voluntary—as unacceptable. They argue that such a move would jeopardize the integrity and reliability of care within the National Health System, leading to uncertainty and arbitrariness. Moreover, the Ministry has cautioned that some of the demands put forth by the unions exceed its jurisdiction, as they are governed by labor law and regional regulations. With regards to working hours, the Ministry has emphasized that their current proposal provides for a maximum of 48 hours per week, including on-call shifts, which cannot exceed 17 hours. This Friday's strike marks the second occasion within this year that doctors have taken to the streets, following their first stoppage in five years on June 13, fuelled by the same demands for better working conditions. The Medical Association (OMC) has voiced its support for these demands, stressing the necessity for fair regulations to attract and retain talent within the SNS. They have underscored that the healthcare crisis is not merely about working conditions but aims towards ensuring professional excellence and equity in healthcare provision. In conjunction with the doctors’ strike, healthcare personnel unions, including SATSE, FSES, FSSCCOO, UGT, CSIF, and CIGSaúde, also gathered recently in front of the Ministry to insist that negotiations should progress and to dismiss the latest proposal from the Ministry as a historic regression in working conditions. As events unfold, the healthcare community remains steadfast in their commitment to fighting for improved working conditions, emphasizing that only through meaningful dialogue and appropriate regulations can the integrity of Spain's National Health System be preserved. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2