Family doctors postpone strike to face second wave of Covid-19

The strike of family doctors has been postponed in order to face the worsening of the Covid-19 situation in Catalonia.

On Wednesday evening, Metges de Catalunya trade union agreed to interrupt their protest, which began on Tuesday and was due to end on Friday.

They said they were "putting caring for people's health ahead of the legitimate and fair defense of medical staffs’ salary and working conditions."

According to them, for many years they have been "suffering a stifling workload that has destroyed the minimum standards of quality of care. "

For this reason, they wanted to make clear to the Catalan health system that they are "only" postponing their moves, but not calling them off.

"If the process of massive dismantling of primary care continues, doctors, exhausted and without the appropriate conditions for their professional practice, will not be able to care for our patients' health problems," read their statement.

On Tuesday, the first day of the postponed strike, 19.8% of physicians working at public community clinics participated in the strike, according to the Catalan Health Institute (ICS). Organizers said that at least 55% supported the industrial action.