Doctors give last 'warning' for state of healthcare, warning of potential mobilizations

Doctors of Catalonia have delivered 54,344 signatures to the Catalan parliament as part of a manifesto calling for "urgent" measures to straighten the healthcare system. 

The general secretary of the union, Xavier Lleonart, affirmed that this is the last "warning," assuring that if there is no change, a "great mobilization" cannot be avoided.

"The discomfort and indignation of healthcare workers is enormous, it only takes a spark for a revolt to break out," Lleonart said, speaking in the Catalan parliament. 

The doctors, and the manifesto, demand more investment, more resources, the hiring of more staff, and an improvement of their working conditions.

Over the weekend, thousands of medical professionals and members of the public demonstrated in Madrid against the region's healthcare policies.

Lleonart wants to see a "radical" change of policy of the government. 

Health minister says demands are "fair" 

Catalonia's minister of health, Manel Balcells, believes that what the doctors are demanding is "fair" and has told them that the negotiation of the labor agreement ('conveni') is an "opportunity" to improve their conditions.

Speaking on public television station TV3 the morning after Doctors of Catalonia made their stance clear, Balbells added that in the negotiation there may be some "differential fact" between doctors and nurses.

Yet, the ERC minister backed not only putting more resources into healthcare but also changing the system.

Thus, it has opened the door to the "concentration of resources" in some specialties, including in primary healthcare.

However, Balcells denied that the situation in Catalonia is the same as that in Madrid.