Health staff begin week-long strike over workload

Medical staff in Catalonia began a week-long strike on Monday over excessive workload and poor conditions.

Emergencies will be guaranteed, as well as special services, such as chemotherapy and hemodialysis. Other departments will provide 25% minimum services.

Health workers blocked the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, one of Barcelona's main avenues, and occupied the headquarters of Catalonia's Health Institute (ICS).

Around 5,700 doctors working in public health centers were called on to join the protest, including gynecologists, pediatricians, odontologists, and family doctors, as well as some 10,000 physicians at public-private centers.

The Metges de Catalunya union said participation in the strike was at 77.3%, while the Catalan government estimates that 44.76% of health professionals joined the action.

In a decade-long dispute, unions condemn poor working conditions that harm the quality of the service. Demands include reducing the number of visits to 28 patients per day, and to spend at least 12 minutes with each person.

The situation was compounded by cutbacks of salaries and staff numbers following the 2008 financial crisis. Health professionals want the administration to hire 920 workers fired during the recession and to reverse a 30% wage reduction.

What to do if you need to see the doctor

With many people no doubt wondering how the strike might affect them, the health department advises the public who have an appointment to either call their center first or go there in person to confirm whether they can see their doctor. If it is not possible to see the doctor, then a new appointment should be scheduled by phone, online or in person.

Patients back demands that prompted strike

In primary care centers (CAP) on Monday, the public accepted the health workers' strike with resignation. According to doctor Anna Franco, at the Manso CAP in Barcelona, "users are very polite, you explain the demands and they support them, they wish us luck," she said, adding that the public understand that it is "to better attend patients."

In the same CAP, Madalena Veiga, suffering from cold symptoms, said: "we must be patient," adding that in her home country of Portugal "very similar situations" take place, adding that "we have to fight for what we can."

Meanwhile, Marga Hernández also showed her support for health workers, despite having spent an hour waiting in the emergency room. "I think we should spend as much as possible on both health and education; we can't save money on those, they are necessary priorities, and health has to come first."