Spain’s Healthcare Reform Sparks Protests and Debate
Spain’s health minister, Mónica García, opted not to attend a press conference following the cabinet meeting where her new Framework Statute for healthcare staff was introduced. This reform has led to months of protests involving doctors and healthcare workers from various political backgrounds.
Instead of García, government spokesperson Elma Saíz, a Socialist minister, defended the controversial reform. She claimed that it has the support of the “majority trade unions” — SATSE-FSES, CC.OO., UGT, and CSIF — as opposed to the groups that joined in protesting the text approved on Tuesday, which still needs to pass through parliament.
Healthcare professionals are demanding several measures they say are missing from García’s reform. The health minister, an anesthesiologist and member of the government’s minority partner Sumar, represents Más Madrid.
Their demands include:
- On-call shifts should count towards Social Security contributions.
- Staff should receive either a night-work allowance or rest days after working consecutive shifts — similar to the arrangement for national police officers and prison staff.
- The creation of a specific A1 professional category for doctors.
- A maximum 35-hour working week.
- Any extra work should be voluntary and paid.
- A voluntary early-retirement scheme, whether full or partial.
- A ban on compulsory redeployment.
The law, which updates the framework for social and healthcare staff after two decades, reduces the maximum weekly working time to 45 hours, below the European average for the sector.
Key Provisions and Controversies
The proposed law includes several key provisions. For on-call duties, the maximum limit is now set at 17 hours of effective work — apparently cutting the current 24-hour cap.
However, there is a catch: Article 97 of the draft bill states that if adequate continuity of care cannot be guaranteed, and “wherever there are organisational or care-related reasons that justify it, the maximum duration” of the working day may be exceeded. The text also provides for the creation of statutory research staff and work-life balance measures.
Despite these provisions, representatives of critical unions — CESM, SMA, Metges de Catalunya, AMYTS, SME, and O’MEGA — have called for a new nationwide demonstration on 15 June at 12:00 outside the Health Ministry in Madrid.
They accuse the ministry of pursuing a strategy of “delay, inaction and a total absence of proposals.” Saíz argued that many of the outstanding demands no longer fall under the ministry’s remit.
“It is the autonomous communities that have powers over pay, staffing levels, the organisation of services and much of the working conditions of professionals,” said the minister, who also holds the inclusion, social security and migration portfolio.
Broader Context of Healthcare Struggles
This reform comes amid broader concerns about healthcare conditions across Europe. In the UK, Spain, and Germany, doctors are increasingly going on strike due to dissatisfaction with working conditions and pay.
Earlier this year, Labour minister Yolanda Díaz had sought a general cap of 37.5 hours a week for the entire workforce, down from the current 40, but the bill was voted down by right-wing parties last September.
The ongoing debate highlights the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in balancing their workload with their personal lives, while also ensuring quality patient care.
As the situation unfolds, the healthcare sector in Spain remains under intense scrutiny, with both supporters and critics of the new framework statute continuing to voice their concerns. The outcome of this reform could have significant implications for the future of healthcare in the country.
