The doctors' strike forces the cancellation of more than 3,000 appointments and tests

PalmThis Monday marked the start of an indefinite strike by doctors protesting the Statute Marc, a demonstration that includes one week of work stoppages each month until June. On this first day, more than 3,000 appointments and tests were canceled, along with a total of 77 surgeries in the Balearic Islands. According to provisional data from the Balearic Islands Health Service (IB-Salut), the strike resulted in the cancellation of 2,162 primary care appointments and 77 surgical procedures. Regarding outpatient activity, 1,835 appointments were not performed, in addition to various diagnostic and radiological tests. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for healthcare and has access to data on which professionals have participated in the protest, has declined to provide participation figures and refers inquiries to the Simebal union. "In recent strikes, we haven't provided participation data. We only report on the activity suspended due to the strike," sources at IB-Salut (the Balearic Islands Health Service) stated. According to Simebal, the first day of the nationwide doctors' strike saw high participation in the Balearic Islands, with 90% of hospital staff and 70% of primary care professionals joining, maintaining reinforced minimum services. Union sources indicate these figures are similar to those recorded in the rest of Spain. Young doctors have been particularly active in the protest, with participation reaching 95% in strategic services such as Anesthesia, which has had a direct impact on surgical procedures. Sources from Simebal-CESM, the doctors' union that called the strike in the Balearic Islands, wanted to send a direct message to patients: "Patients must be able to trust us. This strike is to guarantee the safety of both doctors and patients." The organization apologized for any inconvenience the mobilization might cause and noted that a protest of this magnitude had not been held since 1995.

The union president, Miguel Lázaro, insisted that the strike aims to "protect healthcare professionals and the quality of care. The worst thing that can happen is for a patient to be seen by an exhausted doctor after marathon shifts, because patient safety and the doctor-patient relationship are inevitably affected." During the strike, all urgent, oncology, and non-deferrable services will be maintained, with reinforced minimum services to minimize the impact on the population. Among the main demands, Simebal highlights the need to create a specific statute for the medical profession, recognizing the responsibility and training of professionals, improving working conditions, and preventing the exodus of doctors to the private sector or other countries, thus ensuring quality public healthcare. A separate collective bargaining agreement is also needed.

Outside Son Espases University Hospital, where the day began with a gathering of healthcare professionals, Lázaro emphasized the group's commitment and the unanimous rejection of the new Statute of Professional Conduct promoted by the Ministry of Health. "What we are asking for is reasonable and has sparked unprecedented unity among doctors," he stated. According to the president of Simebal, the rejection of the text is shared by professional associations, Resident Physicians (MIRs), students, deans of medical schools, and scientific societies. "There is no medical organization, union or otherwise, that is not against this statute," he stressed.

The unions are demanding a specific statute for the medical and medical staff that recognizes the "special conditions of training, practice, and responsibility" of these professionals. Lázaro apologized to patients who may be affected by the minimum services and delays, and urged them to trust the doctors' judgment. "We were here during the pandemic. We know what we're doing. We're doing this for them too," he said. The union representative warned that the excessive workload and marathon shifts eventually take their toll. "The worst thing that can happen to a patient is to be treated by an exhausted doctor. When a professional is burned out, the contact with the patient becomes dehumanized," he pointed out. In his opinion, a specific statute would help retain talent, prevent the exodus of doctors to Europe or private healthcare, and strengthen the public system. "Public healthcare is being dismantled," he warned. Lázaro has also demanded the resumption of negotiations, which he considers to have been broken off by the Minister of Health, Mónica García. During the strike days, hospitals in the Balearic Islands will hold daily rallies at 8:30 a.m. in support of the professionals who will have to provide minimum services. Coordinated national strike

The strike is part of a nationwide action affecting doctors and medical professionals throughout Spain. The Strike Committee is comprised of the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM), the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), Doctors of Catalonia (MC), the Association of Doctors and Higher Education Graduates of Madrid (AMYTS), and the Basque Medical Union (SME). This is the first coordinated action by these organizations, which for the past three years have expressed their discontent with the direction of the Statute Marc, the legislation that regulates the working conditions of professionals in the National Health System and which the Ministry of Health has negotiated with the relevant unions.