Galicia protests soaring surgery waiting lists amid medical strike

Medical professionals and citizens staged simultaneous protests in cities across Galicia, including Vigo, Santiago, A Coruña and others, demanding action on the region's growing surgical waiting lists. Data from the SOS Sanidade platform show nearly 47,000 patients awaiting surgery at the end of 2025, with an average delay of 73 days – a 30 % increase over 2019.

The indefinite strike by doctors' unions, ongoing since December, has halted more than 237,000 medical acts, including 725 surgeries postponed in the latest week, along with thousands of consultations and primary‑care appointments. Protesters call for transparent waiting‑list reporting, priority treatment for patients at risk of death or disability, increased hiring, and the implementation of exclusive dedication for public‑sector doctors.

The regional health authority has not responded to the platform’s accusations that it concealed structural reports on the waiting lists and that budget shortfalls and private‑sector pressure exacerbate the problem.