Spanish medical unions call for unified march in Madrid

Medical unions in Spain, including the Sindicato Médico de Euskadi (SME), the Confederación Española de Sindicatos Médicos (CESM), and the Sindicato Médico Andaluz (SMA), have organized a unified march in Madrid scheduled for November 21. The demonstration will proceed from the Ministry of Health to the Congress of Deputies to ensure medical demands remain on the political agenda ahead of the general elections on November 29.

These organizations have postponed previously planned indefinite strikes to focus on political engagement. The strike committee intends to meet with all political parties to present the ‘Mandato de la profesión Médica’, a document outlining essential demands. Key issues include the ‘Estatuto Marco’ (Framework Statute), professional classification, working hours, on-call shifts, and retirement benefits.

Medical professionals have expressed significant frustration regarding labor conditions, specifically citing the physical toll of 24-hour shifts and the fact that on-call hours do not currently count toward retirement. They are calling for a negotiated draft of the Estatuto Marco that addresses these fundamental concerns to avoid further disruptions to the National Health System.