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Murcia doctors announce fresh strike as health dispute deepens
New protest on March 20 adds regional pressure to national walkouts over working conditions
Doctors across the Region of Murcia are preparing for another day of strike action later this month, as tensions continue between medical professionals and both the national and regional health authorities.The CESM Medical Union has called a new regional strike within the Murcian Health Service on Thursday March 20, alongside further street demonstrations and protests at healthcare centres. The walkout will coincide with the final day of a nationwide strike week planned between March 16 and March 20, although union leaders stress that the two actions are separate and have different objectives.
The national protest campaign centres on opposition to the draft Framework Statute proposed by Spain’s Ministry of Health, which sets out working conditions for healthcare staff. According to CESM, the dispute remains unresolved and negotiations with the ministry have yet to produce meaningful progress. The union has confirmed that further strike periods are already being planned for late April, May and June.
Doctors across Spain had already begun strike action earlier this year in protest over pay, hours and the proposed changes to the national framework regulating their profession.
In Murcia, however, the conflict has taken on an additional regional dimension. CESM is demanding that the regional government restart negotiations over issues that fall under its authority and fulfil agreements reached in 2023 concerning Primary Care, Emergency Services and hospital staffing.
Union representatives argue that many of the profession’s concerns could be resolved locally and have criticised the regional administration for failing to respond effectively after the first round of strikes earlier this year.
The previous wave of action in February led to widespread disruption across the Region of Murcia’s health system, with more than 10,000 hospital appointments cancelled during the stoppages.
Among the key demands from the union are better pay for on-call shifts, financial protection for doctors during periods of temporary disability or maternity and paternity leave, clearer rules for substitute staff and more stable planning of work schedules. CESM is also calling for a gradual move towards a 35-hour working week and the creation of a specialised technical committee for medical and healthcare staff.
In addition, the organisation continues to advocate for the creation of a specific national statute for the medical profession.
As part of the renewed campaign, doctors and supporters have also been invited to take part in a demonstration in Murcia city on Tuesday March 17 at 6.30pm. The march is scheduled to begin outside the San Esteban Palace and end at the Government Delegation building.
The dispute has been developing for months. Earlier negotiations between medical unions and the health authorities had briefly paused strike plans late last year after what was described at the time as a breakthrough in talks. However, the disagreements soon resurfaced as discussions stalled again.
With another round of protests now approaching, the union says the new mobilisations are intended to increase pressure on both the Ministry of Health and the regional government to reach agreements on working conditions within Spain’s public healthcare system.
Image: digital representation
