National Doctors' Strike Sweep Spain Demanding Better Working Conditions
Doctors across Spain begin a five-day strike demanding a Medical Statute to improve their working conditions and recognition by the government.
- • National doctors' strike from December 9 to 13 organized by CESM and SMA.
- • Doctors demand a specific Medical Statute for labor regulation and direct negotiation with the Ministry of Health.
- • Emergency services will be maintained, but scheduled appointments and surgeries canceled during the strike.
- • Disputed participation rates in previous strikes and criticism of minimum service impositions.
Key details
A nationwide doctors' strike began across Spain on December 9, 2025, set to last until December 13. Organized by the Confederación Estatal de Sindicatos Médicos (CESM) and the Sindicato Médico Andaluz (SMA), this strike is the third this year and focuses on securing a specific labor regulation through establishing a Medical Statute. The medical professionals seek recognition as direct interlocutors with the Ministry of Health under Mónica García to better negotiate their distinct working conditions within the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS).
During the strike, emergency services in hospitals and health centers will be maintained, but scheduled consultations and surgeries will be canceled. Patients whose appointments are affected are advised to contact Citas Previas to reschedule. In Ceuta, a demonstration supporting the strike took place at the University Hospital of Ceuta, with statements from Médicos Unidos por sus Derechos and representatives of the Médicos Internos Residentes (MIR).
The background of this movement includes disagreements over previous strike participation figures. For example, during the October 3 strike, participation was officially reported by the Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria (INGESA) at just 6.41% in Ceuta and Melilla, while the Sindicato Médico de Ceuta (SMC) claimed over 80% participation. The SMC criticized the imposed minimum services as excessive, alleging that non-striking doctors had to cover excessive workloads, infringing on their fundamental rights.
In Córdoba, the strike adds to labor unrest as over 30,000 workers in various sectors including metal, oil, and private clinics await contract negotiations ahead of 2026. The strike’s national scale highlights widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare workers demanding improved recognition and working conditions amid ongoing social dialogue challenges.
This strike underscores the tensions between medical professionals and government authorities over labor rights and healthcare service management, with the healthcare system striving to maintain critical functions during these disruptions.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
