More than 1,200 healthcare professionals join Catalan health service

More than 1,200 healthcare professionals, including new hires and volunteers, have joined the Catalan health service to help with the effort against the coronavirus pandemic.

Retired and recently graduated doctors and nurses are among those that are now working in hospitals and health centers, answering emergency calls, or monitoring users of the Stop Covid-19 Cat app.

Efforts to bring on board Chinese medics with experience of dealing with covid-19 are also underway. In a press conference on Friday, Catalan health minister Alba Vergés said her department had begun the necessary procedures with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vergés also said that the Catalan government was asking the Spanish health authorities to recognise the qualifications, at least temporarily, of Cuban doctors.

Giving a breakdown of new recruits, Vergés said 289 doctors, 365 nurses, and 278 other healthcare professionals, as well as 36 retired doctors and nurses, are working directly to treat patients with covid-19. 

In addition, about a hundred healthcare professionals, most of whom are retired, and 270 university students are dealing with patients using the covid-19 app and 061 emergency number.