Galician Health Care Faces Staff Shortages Amid New Management Priorities
Galicia's primary health care system faces growing staff shortages sparking protests and prompting new management focuses on mental health and healthcare access improvements.
- • Unions organized a protest due to chronic staff shortages in Vigo primary health centers.
- • Galician Health Service signed management agreements focusing on mental health and reducing healthcare waiting times.
- • The staff shortage situation worsens annually, increasing workload for health professionals.
- • Sergas aims to improve healthcare quality, worker conditions, and integrate services despite ongoing shortages and strikes.
Key details
Primary health care centers in Galicia are currently grappling with significant staff shortages, prompting union-led protests and prompting a strategic response from regional health authorities. On February 4, 2026, unions representing primary care professionals organized a protest set for Thursday at 11:30 AM on Calle Cuba to highlight the chronic and worsening staff shortages in Vigo's health centers. The Primary Care commission warned that this ongoing issue has led to increased workloads and demanded urgent action from the Directorate of the Health Area of Vigo, with continued mobilizations threatened if the problem remains unaddressed.
In response to healthcare challenges including these workforce deficits, the Galician Health Service (Sergas) announced key management agreements on the same day. Health Minister Antonio Gómez Caamaño emphasized priorities such as improving mental health services, integrating care across health settings, and reducing waiting times for surgeries and consultations. Sergas set 53 objectives, focusing 60% of efforts on healthcare quality and outcomes, with notable initiatives like enhancing vaccination and cancer screening programs, and launching a new mental health strategic plan that includes suicide prevention and the creation of a network of clinical psychologists.
However, these efforts are complicated by existing professional shortages and ongoing strikes against proposed Ministry of Health frameworks. Sergas underscores its commitment to improving healthcare workers’ conditions and reducing temporary employment while fostering innovation through digital health tools and personalized treatments.
This dual picture reflects the tensions faced by Galicia’s health system: while strategic management moves aim to elevate care quality and access, workforce shortages continue to strain primary care services, sparking protests and urgent calls for solutions from frontline health professionals.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
