According to a statement, "this measure is being adopted after several months in which the strikes have gone from full-day walkouts to one week a month since February, after confirming the Health Ministry's lack of commitment to negotiating solutions that would address the demands of the medical profession, which remain unchanged." In their view, the reform "does not address the profession's historic demands, nor does it adequately recognize the distinct nature, responsibility and special training and working conditions of doctors and medical specialists."
The aim of these new mobilizations, they said, is to force the Health Ministry to "reconsider its approach and open genuine negotiations to move toward a separate Medical and Specialist Statute, capable of recognizing the particularities of the profession and guaranteeing working conditions commensurate with its level of responsibility and training," Amyts said. October 28 will thus mark the start of an indefinite nationwide strike, which will also have the backing of the Medical and Specialist Union (UMYF), made up of Metges de Catalunya, Amyts, O’MEGA, Simega, Sindicato Médico Avanza, Sindicato Médico de Navarra and Semca.
The Strike Committee comprises the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM), together with the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), Metges de Catalunya (MC), the Association of Doctors and Senior Graduates of Madrid (Amyts), the Basque Medical Union (SME) and the Independent Galician Specialists' Union (O’MEGA).
