The talks come after weeks of protests and negotiations between the Health Service and medical representatives. On October 23, Sanz said that the two main sticking points had already been agreed, relating to on-call conditions and level 4 of the professional career system, although issues still remained before the deal could be definitively finalized.
FORMAL MEETINGS WILL BE CALLED BETWEEN THIS WEEK AND NEXT
The minister also responded to concerns expressed by other unions over the failure to call a meeting of the Health Sectoral Committee. Sanz argued that, although it has not yet formally met, contacts with the unions have taken place. "The fact that the Sectoral Committee has not been called does not mean there have been no contacts," he said.
CSIF, CCOO, UGT and FTPS had specifically complained that the Sectoral Committee had gone ten months without meeting and criticized the fact that issues affecting all Health Service workers were being negotiated with medical unions. Sanz has now said that formal meetings will take place "over the course of this week or next," although he indicated that next week was the more likely option.
The doctors' strikes have also affected healthcare activity, although the Department does not yet have a complete assessment. Sanz said the impact had been concentrated particularly in major hospitals and that the Clínico had been one of the centers most affected. "It has mainly affected consultations and, above all, surgical procedures," the minister explained.
