Family doctors’ strike followed by 55%, say organizers; not even 20% did, say authorities

Catalonia woke up on Tuesday to a 4-day strike called by primary care doctors to denounce the "collapse" of the healthcare system, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Professionals accuse authorities of failing to deliver on promises to improve working conditions.

According to the Catalan Health Institute (ICS), 19.8% of physicians working at public community clinics participated in the strike. Organizers say at least 55% supported the industrial action.

All in all, there are 6,210 family doctors in Catalonia, of which 2,838 were affected by the strike during the morning shift. The ICS says 561 reportedly adhered to the strike, and 948 were provided minimum services. 

"We are calling a strike out of desperation," said Javier O’Farrill, the president of the primary healthcare sector for Metges de Catalunya (Catalonia’s Doctors), the largest physicians’ union, in an interview ahead of Tuesday’s strike. O’Farrill said they wanted to ensure the "quality" of care instead of treating patients like "cattle."    

The aim of the strike is to demand a larger workforce, decimated following years of austerity policies, as well as better wages and increasing the hours spent visiting patients.

Healthcare authorities: 'Absolutely inopportune'

Catalonia’s Healthcare Institute (ICS) rejected coming to the negotiating table under the threat of a strike given the current public health circumstances.

Josep Maria Argimon, the Catalan government secretary for Public Health, called the prospect of industrial action "absolutely inopportune," and although he conceded that the community healthcare system is in need of a "transformation," he rejected claims that doctors were "mistreated."