Spain’s Doctors’ Union Calls Nationwide Strikes Nov. 16 to 27

The United Doctors Union (SMU) has called nationwide doctors’ strikes from Nov. 16 to 27, according to The Local Spain. The stoppages follow the general strike on Nov. 11, which is also expected to affect health services, and will run alongside regional walkouts already planned.

In Catalonia, the doctors’ union Metges de Catalunya began an indefinite strike on Oct. 28. Patients with appointments, procedures or diagnostic tests in the coming weeks may see delays, although no minimum services or exact strike hours have been set.

What the union is demanding

The SMU wants labour rules written specifically for physicians. It says the current Framework Statute, which sets the conditions of statutory workers in the public health services, folds doctors into a framework shared with other health professionals and does not meet their needs.

The union lists several issues it wants covered by separate regulation:

• salaries and working hours
• breaks and on-call duty
• education and career development
• retirement

It argues that separate rules would prevent large differences between regions. It also wants a 35-hour work week in every region and enough staff to provide care without overexertion. According to the union, it has been asking for these regulations for over six years.

Unions are also asking for extraordinary funding to deal with salary issues, and for urgent measures from regional governments to ease excessive workloads.

Regional strikes already under way or planned

Medical unions in Madrid, Catalonia and Valencia have called stoppages as well, citing stalled regional negotiations. The Local Spain lists the following:

• Catalonia: Metges de Catalunya began an indefinite strike on Oct. 28.
• Madrid: two 72-hour blocks of walkouts in November. The first has taken place. The second runs from 8 a.m. on Nov. 18 to 8 a.m. on Nov. 21.
• Andalusia: the Andalusian Medical Union announced continuous stoppages from Nov. 13 to Dec. 4.
• Castilla-La Mancha: 24-hour strike days on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Nov. 16.
• Canary Islands: an indefinite walkout began on Oct. 16 and was extended to Nov. 17.

What it means for patients

Strikes can push back appointments and lengthen waiting lists, particularly where services are already strained. People with pending appointments or awaiting diagnostic tests are the most likely to be affected.

The real impact will depend on the minimum services each region sets and on how many health professionals join. For now, no exact strike times or minimum services have been established. The Local Spain advises patients with a scheduled appointment or procedure during the strike period to ask their health centre or hospital whether it will be affected.

What to watch next

The national stoppages begin Nov. 16 and end Nov. 27. Regional authorities, including the Generalitat in Catalonia, are expected to set minimum services, which will determine how many appointments and procedures go ahead. Metges de Catalunya’s strike has no end date.

Source: The Local Spain