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Doctors across Spain are preparing to step up their protests in February, warning that mobilisations will be “much more intense” and could even lead to an indefinite strike if the Ministry of Health does not change course.

 

The announcement marks a new phase in a dispute that has been simmering since last year over the draft Framework Statute being prepared by the Health Ministry. After several strikes and demonstrations in 2025, medical unions say dialogue was effectively broken off on December 17, when negotiations were halted without agreement.

 

At a joint press conference, the strike committee made up of the State Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM) and the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA) confirmed that four more organisations have now joined the movement: Metges de Catalunya, Amyts, O’MEGA and the Medical Union of Euskadi. Together, they say this show of unity reflects the seriousness of the situation facing the profession.

 

Although exact dates have not yet been set, union leaders confirmed that February will see new days of mobilisation and warned that all options remain on the table. “Our strategies from now on will be highly confrontational,” said Víctor Pedrera, general secretary of CESM, adding that an indefinite strike is being actively considered.

 

Pedrera criticised the Health Ministry for reaching an agreement with other healthcare unions earlier this winter without involving medical representatives. “The Ministry is meeting with general unions and deciding on working conditions that affect doctors, but we are not represented there,” he said, arguing that none of the core demands of doctors, including having their own statute, were addressed.

 

Rafael Ojeda, president of the Andalusian Medical Union, welcomed the growing unity among medical organisations, saying it “demonstrates the seriousness of the challenge we face”. He also appealed to political parties to move away from what he called “partisan confrontation”, warning that it does nothing to resolve the conflict.

 

Pressure is also expected to extend beyond Madrid. Xavier Lleonart, president of Metges de Catalunya, said regional governments would be targeted too, as they have powers over some working conditions. “There isn’t a single one that can’t eliminate 24-hour on-call shifts,” he insisted.

 

While doctors’ unions in Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia have already called strikes for Wednesday January 14 and Thursday January 15, the national organisations say their focus is on coordinating joint action later. As Pedrera put it, “This will not end until the Ministry reconsiders.”

 

 

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