Medical unions have set October 28 as the start date for a nationwide indefinite strike against the Framework Statute of the Ministry of Health. In Madrid, each previous strike day resulted in over 254,000 lost consultations, surgeries, and tests.
The Medical and Faculty Union (UMYF), made up of seven unions from different autonomous communities, has agreed on October 28 as the start date for an indefinite nationwide strike. The strike is in response to the rejection of the Framework Statute being prepared by the Ministry of Health, a text that will regulate the working conditions of healthcare professionals. The organisers argue that the regulation "does not address the historical demands of the group nor recognise the uniqueness, responsibility, and special training and practice conditions of doctors," according to 20minutos.
This is not the first mobilisation. Since February, five strikes have been called, resulting in over three million suspended healthcare acts and an economic impact exceeding 200 million euros, according to data from the unions based on information from 13 of the 17 autonomous communities. Now the strike will be indefinite, although the "calendar for the rest of the actions" is yet to be finalised.
The minimum services, set by the health authority of each community, have not yet been confirmed. In primary care, previous strikes had minimum services ranging from 12% to 50% depending on the community and type of centre, while in critical services such as emergencies, they can reach 100%.
The impact on patients is concentrated in routine consultations and with specialists (cardiology, orthopaedics, dermatology), non-urgent surgeries, and diagnostic tests such as MRIs, endoscopies, or ultrasounds. In Madrid, each previous strike day resulted in over 254,000 lost consultations, surgeries, and tests, according to union estimates. In Andalusia, the average exceeded 60,000 per day.
Their struggle will benefit both them and us," said patients affected by the cancellations in statements to 20minutos, most of whom support the doctors' demands.
The unions warn that an indefinite strike exacerbates the problem: if it lasts several days, pending appointments and procedures accumulate, and waiting lists may grow after the conflict. In the Basque Country, the average waiting time for a surgical intervention increased by almost 50% in just one month, according to data communicated by the regional government in April.
The strike will begin on October 28 and will continue until an agreement is reached. Patients should stay alert to communications from their health centre or hospital to confirm whether their appointment will go ahead or be postponed.
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