Doctors strike across Spain

Doctors across Spain have gone on strike, demanding better working conditions, higher pay and an end to what they describe as chronic understaffing in the public health system. The walkouts have affected hospitals and primary care centers in multiple regions, forcing health authorities to activate minimum service levels to ensure emergency care.

Medical unions say doctors are facing excessive workloads, long hours and stagnant wages, pressures that have worsened since the pandemic. They argue that staff shortages are pushing many physicians toward burnout and driving younger doctors to seek work abroad or in the private sector. Protesters say reforms promised by regional and national governments have been slow or insufficient.

Striking doctors held demonstrations outside hospitals and government buildings, carrying banners calling for dignified working conditions and warning that patient care is at risk if staffing levels are not improved. Union leaders said the strike is not only about pay but also about protecting the quality and safety of healthcare.

Regional governments, which manage most healthcare services in Spain, said they are monitoring the impact of the strike and urged dialogue. Some officials acknowledged the strain on the system but said budget constraints limit how quickly demands can be met. Health authorities stressed that emergency and critical services remain operational.

Patients experienced delays in non-urgent appointments and procedures, while emergency rooms continued to operate under minimum staffing rules. Consumer and patient groups expressed concern about disruptions but also voiced sympathy for doctors’ demands, noting widespread dissatisfaction with waiting times and access to care.

The strike highlights broader tensions within Spain’s public healthcare system, which is widely valued but increasingly strained by rising demand, an aging population and staff shortages. Unions warned that further industrial action could follow if negotiations fail to produce concrete improvements.