Strike to Begin 28 October with No End Date
The Catalan medical union Metges de Catalunya has confirmed that doctors will begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday 28 October. The strike will affect all days and all areas of healthcare services across the region until the Department of Health agrees to formal negotiations, said union general secretary Xavier Lleonart. The action is part of a nationwide mobilisation by medical unions in Spain against the proposed reform of the Marco Estatuto (Framework Statute) for healthcare professionals. Lleonart described the strike as a 'classic' form of protest, with a fixed start date but no end date, and stressed it would continue until a negotiated agreement addresses doctors' core demands.
No Response from Health Department, Says Union
Lleonart criticised the lack of communication from the Department of Health, stating in an interview on Bon dia, Barcelona that dialogue with the ministry is 'totally non-existent'. 'They don't even respond to us,' he said, accusing the Health Minister of attempting to redirect negotiations to sectoral agreement tables that the union considers inadequate. The union is demanding an end to excessive working hours, including shifts that reach 24 hours per day and workweeks of up to 48 hours. It insists that only a 'real negotiation' can resolve systemic overwork and improve conditions for medical staff.
Nationwide Coordination Among Medical Unions
The strike will be coordinated across Spain with the same timeline in all regions. Metges de Catalunya is part of a broader coalition, including the newly formed national association UMYF (Unió Mèdica i Facultativa), which brings together doctors from Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia, Galicia, the Canary Islands and Navarre. Together, these groups represent around 97,000 medical professionals, 54% of all statutory healthcare staff in the National Health System. The decision follows months of protests and growing frustration among doctors who say the healthcare system relies on their overwork to function. 'People are tired that the system survives on our extra effort,' Lleonart said.
The strike has a start date, but no end date, it will continue until we reach an agreement that meets our needs.
Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by beteve.cat, elperiodico.com, Pau de la Calle, elperiodico.cat, lleidadiari.cat, 3CatInfo, ACN, infobae.com, lavanguardia.com, betevé.
