Doctors and medical staff from the Community of Madrid gathered before the Ministry of Health to demand a specific Marco Statute recognizing their profession's particularities. The protest is in its fourth week of an intermittent indefinite strike, with weekly stoppages extending until May 22nd, and is part of a coordinated national day of action.
The general secretary of Amyts, Ángela Hernández, publicly called for the resignation of Minister Mónica García, accusing her of prioritizing her work with the World Health Organization and her political ambitions in the Community of Madrid, thereby neglecting negotiations for the medical strike. "We are experiencing the longest medical and faculty strike in Spain's recent history, and the minister is in Geneva dealing with WHO matters," Hernández stated, adding that the minister dedicates weekends to campaigning for the Presidency of the Community of Madrid.
Hernández advocated for a "technical" Health Minister focused on the National Health System's issues. She indicated that since Mónica García expressed her intention to run for regional office, the Ministry has not shown sufficient signs to resolve the conflict, which she believes has delegitimized her. "It is time for her to hand over the ministerial portfolio to someone else," she insisted, calling for dialogue capable of reaching agreements.
Amyts also criticized the Regional Government, lamenting its minimal engagement with only two meetings since February. The union leader equated the approach of the Madrid Health Councilor, Fátima Matute, and the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, with that of Mónica García and Pedro Sánchez, despite their opposing political affiliations, stating that both find it "convenient to have doctors and medical staff as cheap labor".
The Health Department of the Community of Madrid estimates the financial impact of the strike days since December at 13.9 million euros, resulting in the suspension of 8,904 surgeries, 180,836 consultations, and 18,877 diagnostic tests.
The protest schedule will continue with demonstrations at the Hospital de La Princesa and outside the Health Department. The Madrid Strike Committee plans another week of stoppages between June 15th and 19th. Over 175,000 doctors across Spain are called to join the strike organized by various medical confederations and unions.
Demands include a new professional career model, early retirement, increased payment for on-call duties, extended voluntary coverage, and a transitional payment for the loss of the 2010 extra pay. Equality in service valuation, parity for Gómez Ulla Hospital with Sermas, elimination of the exclusivity gap, and improvements for residents and primary care dentistry professionals are also sought.
