A call to action
The situation in Madrid's healthcare system is becoming critical, with the anaesthetists and resuscitators of 12 de Octubre University Hospital making a drastic decision: to suspend all voluntary extraordinary activities, known as 'peonadas', starting from June 1. This announcement marks a milestone in the protests that have shaken the health sector in the community.
Medical professionals have expressed their frustration at what they consider a lack of negotiating will from both the Ministry of Health and the Community of Madrid. After months of mobilisations and strikes, the anaesthetists feel that their demands have not been heard.
In a statement addressed to the Health Department, the doctors made it clear that they are not willing to continue sustaining the healthcare system “through excessive effort”. The current working and salary conditions are unsustainable, they claim. Among their main demands are:
- The creation of a specific table for doctors and medical staff.
- The immediate implementation of a reduced working day of 35 hours.
- Significant improvements in on-call pay.
Despite the impact this measure may have on medical care, the anaesthetists defend their decision as legitimate after months without concrete progress in negotiations.
The impact is already evident: over 205,000 outpatient consultations suspended, along with thousands of diagnostic tests and surgeries postponed due to recent strikes. The Community has estimated that the accumulated economic cost exceeds 15 million euros, which puts even more pressure on an already weakened system.
The Health Minister, Fátima Matute, has directly pointed to Mónica García, Minister of Health and former anaesthetist of the same hospital, as responsible for the current conflict. Matute has described this situation as “the worst indefinite medical strike against the minister” and has urged García to sit down with her colleagues to address the concerns raised by the doctors.
As this healthcare crisis progresses, it is clear that the tensions between medical professionals and health authorities not only affect medical staff but also the overall well-being of the Madrid healthcare system. The lack of effective solutions could lead to even more serious consequences if action is not taken soon.
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