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Doctors' strike threat returns as talks stall and February action confirmed
After hopes of a breakthrough before Christmas, medical unions now set out a fresh timetable of nationwide strikes and protests
For a brief moment before Christmas, it looked as though Spain’s long-running dispute between doctors and the Ministry of Health might be heading towards a resolution. Talks in mid-December led unions to put planned strike action on hold, raising cautious hopes that an agreement on working conditions could be reached.Those hopes quickly faded. By early January, medical unions were warning that protests could resume, accusing the ministry of failing to address their core concerns and signalling that tougher action was likely in February.
Now that warning has become reality. A coalition of medical unions has announced an indefinite nationwide strike, structured as one week of strike action per month, starting in mid-February. The action is being coordinated by the Strike Committee, which brings together organisations including the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM), the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), Metges de Catalunya, AMYTS in Madrid, the Basque Medical Union (SME) and the Independent Galician Doctors’ Union (O’MEGA).
The unions have made clear that the central demand is a specific Framework Statute for doctors, separate from the general regulation governing staff in the National Health System. They argue that the current proposal from the Ministry of Health does not reflect doctors’ training, responsibilities or working realities.
In a joint statement, the Strike Committee said the aim is to secure legislation that recognises the “special conditions of training, responsibility and job performance” of the profession.
Doctors say the dispute centres on the draft Framework Statute currently being negotiated with the Ministry of Health, which they believe fails to improve working conditions or reflect the realities of daily medical practice. Union representatives argue that the proposed text leaves many long-standing problems unresolved, setting out several key concerns they say must be tackled if meaningful progress is to be made.
- On-call shifts, which doctors say are still not properly regulated, with calls for fair pay at least equivalent to normal working hours and for these shifts to count towards retirement
- Breaks and working hours, with unions warning that the draft allows unlimited hours or reduced rest periods when staffing levels are deemed insufficient, a situation they say is increasingly common
- Work-life balance, as doctors criticise the removal of the Work-Life Balance Plan and warn that the proposal would leave them without full pay during temporary incapacity, maternity or risk-related leave, while limiting holiday negotiations
- Staffing ratios, including the need for incentives and clear criteria for hard-to-fill posts
- Job offers and mobility, with objections to plans for competitive examinations every three years instead of every two, and the introduction of forced mobility without adequate notice
- Withdrawal of the current draft, with doctors calling for it to be scrapped and replaced by a specific statute that properly regulates the medical profession
Strike dates already set
According to the unions, the first phase of mobilisations will run until June, with the following weeks confirmed for strike action:
- February 16 to 20
- March 16 to 20
- April 27 to 30
- May 18 to 22
- June 15 to 19
Alongside the strikes, doctors have also called a nationwide demonstration in Madrid on Saturday February 14, which they describe as the starting point for this new phase of mobilisation.
Murcia joins the national call
Doctors in the Region of Murcia have confirmed they will join the indefinite strike from February 16, aligning themselves with the national timetable.
Union representatives in the region say the planned action builds on protests held last year and reflects growing frustration with negotiations that have dragged on for years without a satisfactory outcome.
Despite the escalation, the unions insist the door to dialogue remains open. “We are still waiting for the Ministry of Health to return to the negotiating table,” they said, stressing that their goal is a sustainable, efficient and high-quality National Health System for both professionals and patients.
For now, however, doctors appear determined to press ahead, warning that without meaningful change, February’s strike could mark the beginning of a prolonged and highly disruptive period for healthcare services across Spain.
