Spanish medical unions call for indefinite strike on October 28

Medical unions in Spain have called for an indefinite strike starting October 28 to protest the reform of the 'Estatuto Marco', the regulation governing working conditions for public healthcare personnel. More than 177,000 medical professionals are called to participate in the action.

The primary demand from medical organizations is the creation of a specific 'Medical and Faculty Statute' to distinguish their professional requirements and labor conditions from other healthcare roles. While the Ministry of Health has proposed a common framework, unions argue that a single regulation for all healthcare staff is insufficient.

In the Basque Country, the strike will begin two days before additional regional walkouts scheduled for October 30. Further strikes are planned in December across Álava, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa, as well as a general strike for Osakidetza on December 14. Although some regions like Asturias, Galicia, and Andalusia have reached local labor agreements, the national strike aims to force a broader renegotiation with the central government.