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Doctors Begin Third National Strike Monday Over Spain’s Health Statute

Unions seek a dedicated doctor statute with firm guarantees on hours, job classification and retirement.

Overview

  • The four-day walkout that begins Monday marks the third nationwide stoppage this year and the third of five planned through June if talks fail.
  • The strike targets the proposed Estatuto Marco, as doctors demand their own statute, a 35-hour week with paid extra hours, fair professional grades and flexible, non‑penalized retirement.
  • Talks have stalled after four meetings since March, and Health Minister Mónica García canceled a planned joint meeting, saying unions broke an accord, which the unions deny.
  • The ministry and regional governments named the Platform of Patient Organizations as mediator on March 27, a choice the strike committee rejected as not neutral.
  • Regional systems report heavy disruption, with Andalusia counting 767,000 suspended appointments so far and about 50,000 lost per strike day, while regional unions stage parallel stoppages and midweek rallies.