With white coats, banners and chantsThousands of doctors from various regions gathered in the center of Madrid and marched to the Ministry of Health to express their rejection of the draft reform of the Framework Statute. The demonstration, supported by the State Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM) and the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), was not deterred by the bad weather or the forecast of rain.
The organizers estimated the attendance at Nearly 3.000 professionalsThey arrived largely on buses chartered for the occasion, and included medical students and resident physicians. During the march, the participants emphasized their demands. a specific standard for doctors and medical professionals and its own negotiating table, in addition to maintaining a protest schedule that includes four days of strikes in December.
What happened during the march
The mobilization began in front of the Congress of Deputies and advanced the few hundred meters that separate the Plaza de las Cortes from the Paseo del Prado. During the journey, sounds were heard slogans critical of the Ministry and the march concluded with a protest outside the Ministry of Health headquarters, where the Secretary General of CESM, Victor PedreraHe read a manifesto.
Among the voices that took part, testimonies were heard from Medicine students who report back-to-back workdays, as well as specialists who claim to have accumulated shifts that do not count towards retirement and insufficient rest periods. The common demand was clear: recognition of the unique nature of their profession and real improvements in working hours and pay.
Who is calling for the call and what support do they have?
The protest was driven by CESM and SMAand had the support of Collegiate Medical Organization, Forum of the Medical Profession and the State Council of Medical Students, in addition to regional unions such as Amyts and organizations integrated into ApemyfMedical Associations of various provinces They subsidized bus transferswith departures from Aragon, Murcia or the Valencian Community, among other places, to facilitate attendance in Madrid.
What are the doctors demanding?
Medical unions insist that the text under negotiation It does not capture the specificity of the optional work and demand their own framework. Among their demands, they highlight the regulation of working hours and of the guards, their voluntary nature and fair remuneration, in addition to a guaranteed rest period.
- Un specific statute for doctors and medical professionals, with their own negotiation table.
- 35-hour workday weekly; any excess, voluntary, agreed and paid.
- Volunteer guardswith clear boundaries and retirement contribution.
- Early and partial retirement voluntary without penalty from age 60.
- Professional classification updated (recognition of group A1 plus) in accordance with responsibility and training.
- Effective breaks and work-life balance measures that do not depend on the “needs of the service”.
According to the organizers, these measures would allow retain talent in the National Health System, to reduce the workload and improve patient care, in a context of shortage of doctors and growing waiting lists.
What the Ministry defends
The Ministry of Health maintains that its draft already incorporates significant progress: reduction of long on-call shifts (from 24 to 17 hours), limits on weekly and annual working hours and periodic calls for competitive examinationsSources within the department argue that a text exclusively for doctors would be unacceptable because it would break cohesion of the common statute that regulates all NHS staff.
Background and next steps
The Madrid protest is part of a series of mobilizations that began months ago: rallies and marches In the capital, there were two previous national strikes and demonstrations in various cities. The organizing groups emphasize that the turnout was high. very high in previous strikes and that they have brought to the attention of the Ministry concrete proposals repeatedly.
In the absence of progress at the last meeting with the Ministry of Health, CESM and SMA maintain their strike schedule with four consecutive days in December. Furthermore, the Apemyf group has announced a new round of actions that could intensify if no agreements are reached regarding on-call shifts, working hours, classification, and retirement.
The march made it clear that the medical community remains united around a single message: a specific statute and negotiations to address working hours, breaks, classification, and career development. While awaiting the resumption of dialogue, the unions assert that pressure will continue until an agreement is reached. improve the conditions and guarantee quality care.