Galicia negotiates new primary care pay model based on patient complexity

In Galicia, Spain, health authorities (Sergas) and unions are negotiating a new remuneration model for primary care professionals. The proposal aims to adjust salaries based on patient complexity and age rather than just the number of assigned health cards. Under this model, patients over 80 would count three times as much as standard patients, reflecting the higher care intensity required for elderly populations.

The Sociedad Española de Médicos Generales y de Familia (SEMG) in Galicia views the move as an advance but warns that financial incentives alone may not solve staffing shortages in rural areas. They argue that attracting young doctors requires improving working conditions and reducing the inherent difficulties of rural practice.

Other regional health reports indicate diverse challenges: in Huelva, emergency doctors have expressed concern over insufficient staffing to supervise residents, while in Maracaibo, health workers have begun a signature campaign to demand dignified wages and proper bonus calculations.