Doctors Take to the Streets Again:

Málaga has become the main hub for Andalusian doctors this Wednesday, who have chosen it to discuss, once again, a reform in the healthcare system. Specifically, after several mobilizations, they demanded during the third of the four planned strikes in the coming days the need for "a specific framework statute." According to data from the Andalusian government, the strike was followed by 24% of Malaga's doctors, a figure that the Malaga Medical Union has raised to 60%.

"We are trying to have a regulatory framework similar to the European one so that the uniqueness and particularity of the medical practice is recognized. It is inhumane; a doctor cannot be working 24 hours in surgery or a pediatrician seeing child after child, or a gastroenterologist, any specialty. Doctors must have work time and rest time to perform optimally. We aim to protect the best quality of care, the dignification of the profession, and above all, the safety of the patient. Shifts cannot be so long, and it is incomprehensible that on-call hours do not count. I could have spent six years of my career on-call, and they do not count towards my retirement," emphasized in front of the Noble Hospital, Pedro Navarro, president of the Malaga Medical Association, who also insisted on regulation to prevent "losing much talent" that opts to move abroad.

Meanwhile, Rafael Ojeda, president of the Andalusian Medical Union, praised this claim to regulate "our particular and different working conditions from other health professionals". He also highlighted that "the current workday amounts to labor exploitation" and demanded "a professional classification that does justice to our qualifications": "The first step must be taken by the Ministry because there needs to be a reform of the basic state legislation, without it, there can be no specific statute and no solution to the conflict," he pointed out.

The representative of the Andalusian doctors added that these improvements "seem essential" not only for this profession but for "the future of public health." "The Ministry refuses to negotiate. There is nothing but a feigned negotiation because at no time has it truly intended to meet the demands of our group. Thus, we are forced to continue demonstrating as long as necessary because we cannot continue like this. There have been times when the negotiation has made some progress, but what we cannot do is that the moment any correction or condition is proposed, the minister digs in her heels and tells us that we are defending illegal things. This is a problem that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, must address."

"We ask that our rights be equated to other workers in this country with 35-hour weeks, rest days, and care throughout our working lives. I have three young children and balancing is complicated. So this is for them, for all the moms, dads, for everyone who has been working under inhumane conditions their whole lives, our fatigue affects how we attend to patients," highlighted Carmen López, a family doctor.

The mobilization, which started at 11:00 AM in the eastern area of the Plaza del General Torrijos next to the old Noble Hospital, followed the Paseo del Parque, Plaza de la Marina, and Calle Larios, until reaching the Plaza de la Constitución, where it concluded. The next strike days are scheduled for this Thursday, April 30, May 18-22, and June 15-19. During these days, regarding minimum services, those centers that do not have a Primary Care Emergency Service (SUAP) or if it has different opening hours than the clinic "will designate a doctor for exclusive attention to emergencies." Meanwhile, auxiliary clinics "will not have minimum services assigned"; and "all services on Sundays or holidays" will be maintained in hospital care and in emergencies, critical care, and childbirths. This also includes "diagnostic tests and urgent activities performed on a Sunday or holiday".