Overview
- An indefinite doctors' strike that began in the Canary Islands on October 16 has continued while new regional actions launch across the country.
- Physician unions in Madrid, Catalonia and the Valencian Community started coordinated stoppages from October 28 with Madrid holding four blocks of strikes and a march to the Congress.
- Castilla-La Mancha's Sindicato Médico CESM CLM announced an indefinite regional strike starting November 16 with 24-hour stoppages every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and no planned end date.
- Unions demand bigger staff lists tied to actual needs, a return to a 35-hour week, better pay and on-call pay and career progression; they also accuse some regional health ministries of halting talks and imposing unilateral minimum-service rules.
- The wave of regional strikes raises pressure on regional executives and could trigger a renewed national strike over the Estatuto Marco if the new government or administrations do not meet the unions' demands, while patients face risks to waiting times and service arrangements.