Catalan Doctors Demand Urgent Talks with Illa to Prevent Strike

The union calls for working hour reforms and 24-hour stroke care in the Tarragona region.

Generic image of a stethoscope on a wooden desk with an official letter.
IA

Generic image of a stethoscope on a wooden desk with an official letter.

The Metges de Catalunya union has formally requested President Salvador Illa and Health Minister Olga Pané to open immediate negotiations ahead of the strikes scheduled for next week.

The organization highlights that the Catalan Parliament recently approved a motion urging the Government to reach an agreement on medical demands. The motion saw broad support, with only Vox and one PSC deputy voting against it.
Key demands include a revision of annual working hours to match other healthcare professionals. Doctors are pushing to end the mandatory 48-hour work week and replace 24-hour shifts with 12-hour periods to manage workload more effectively.

"It would be unjustifiable for the executive to discriminate against this group and not act in the same way it has with teachers."

Metges de Catalunya · Union
The motion also specifically addresses regional healthcare gaps, demanding 24/7 stroke care services in hospitals across Camp de Tarragona, Terres de l'Ebre, and Lleida, supported by increased staffing and technical resources.