Nearly 900 healthcare workers are already working in the public health system without being certified in Catalan.

PalmThe Balearic Islands Health Service (IB-Salut) has incorporated 895 healthcare professionals who did not have to undergo accreditation. knowledge of Catalan Since the government eliminated the requirement in 2023, this figure represents approximately 6% of the total public sector workforce and will increase as new positions are advertised. Upon assuming the presidency of the government, Marga Prohens abolished the requirement via decree-law on August 28, 2023. Since then, knowledge of Catalan has gone from being mandatory to merely an asset for accessing public healthcare positions. This measure is included in the agreement Prohens signed with Vox to be invested as prime minister. However, it actually bears the signature of the People's Party (PP), as they had already committed to its implementation during the campaign.

According to data provided by IB-Salut, 895 healthcare professionals have joined the service since then without the requirement. These include doctors, nurses, and nursing assistants. Orderlies, for whom the requirement will also be reduced or eliminated following the agreement signed this week between the PP and Vox parties, are not considered healthcare personnel. According to data released by the Directorate General of Public Service, in 2024 (the last year for which figures are available) there were 14,774 healthcare workers in the public network. 652 enrolled in voluntary Catalan language courses.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has been offering introductory Catalan courses for healthcare workers since February 2024. These are voluntary and free classes. According to IB-Salut, 652 healthcare professionals have enrolled since then.

The Health Minister, Manuela Garcia, argued in an interview from 2023 with the ARA Baleares He argued that eliminating the Catalan language requirement would help attract healthcare professionals to the Balearic Islands. He compared the mandatory Catalan requirement to the high cost of housing, claiming both were deterrents to seeking employment there. However, García asserted that "all healthcare workers" know how to tell patients "raise your arm" and "stick out your tongue" "without any difficulty."