Spain's healthcare workers face rising attacks, unions demand stronger safeguards

In Andalusia, the number of assaults on public‑health staff rose to 1,976 in 2025, a 6 % increase from the previous year, with Sevilla recording the highest cases (569). The regional health administration said it is drafting a sanction regime for users who attack healthcare workers, a measure long outlined in the existing prevention plan. The UGT union welcomed the step but called it “late and insufficient” without a full update of the prevention plan, arguing that the surge reflects staff shortages, high workload and deteriorating service conditions.

Nationally, experts estimate around 18,000 attacks on healthcare professionals each year, acknowledging significant under‑reporting. In a recent debate, officials and researchers described the violence as a structural problem requiring joint action, including a unified reporting registry, stronger preventive measures, and an effective punitive framework. One health director warned, “we are not talking about isolated cases, we are dealing with a structural issue.”