Spanish doctors officially call an indefinite strike in October

Doctors say months of protests and failed negotiations with the Health Ministry have left them with no option but to step up industrial action

Doctors across Spain are officially being called to an indefinite strike from October 28, after the country's main medical union organisation formally registered the planned industrial action.

The organisation representing medical unions across Spain, Confederación Española de Sindicatos Médicos, known as CESM, says the decision comes after months of protests and several previous strike days, with negotiations over doctors' working conditions failing to make progress.

The dispute centres on proposed changes to Spain's Estatuto Marco, the legislation that sets out the working conditions and employment rules for healthcare professionals in the public health system.

Medical unions say the draft changes have been sent to Spain's parliament without addressing their main concerns. They argue that rules affecting doctors for years to come should not be approved without reaching an agreement with the professionals themselves.

The unions say negotiations with the Ministry of Health have effectively been at a standstill since June. According to CESM, the ministry has considered the negotiations finished, pointing to an agreement reached through the healthcare negotiating system.

Doctors' representatives disagree and are now increasing the pressure with an open-ended strike.
The action is expected to involve doctors throughout Spain's public health system, including resident doctors, known as MIRs. It will also cover medical professionals working in publicly linked private centres, public companies, consortia and other organisations providing services within the public system.

Two regional medical unions, from the Basque Country and Andalucia, have also joined the strike call and will take part in the committee organising the action.

Despite the announcement, the unions are stressing that the strike can still be avoided.
They are calling on the Ministry of Health to reopen direct negotiations with doctors and reach an agreement before October 28. They are also appealing to political parties in Spain's parliament not to approve the proposed changes in their current form, but instead send them back to the ministry for further negotiations.

CESM says there is still time to find an agreement and avoid an indefinite walkout.

If the strike goes ahead, the walkout would seriously impact services, as the call covers doctors working across Spain's public health system. Exactly how services will be affected will depend on the arrangements put in place for the strike and any negotiations that take place before October 28.

Images:CESM