Doctors in Castilla-La Mancha Strike Over New Health Bill

The call for action, promoted by the Medical Union of Castilla-La Mancha, aims to draw attention to demands that the group considers urgent to guarantee decent healthcare conditions. Among the main demands is the immediate restoration of the Professional Career in the Sescam (Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha). Ciudad Real doctors consider that the text «does not adequately recognize the responsibility, training, availability, or care workload required in the practice of Medicine, does not guarantee rest or work-life balance, maintains an obsolete professional classification, does not resolve contractual instability, and compromises the system's ability to attract and retain talent». They state that without a regulatory framework that recognizes the specificity of medical practice, «the sustainability of the National Health System, talent retention, and equity in access to healthcare are seriously compromised». They defend that the text must expressly recognize the high responsibility of the medical act and that administrations must commit to a real strengthening of the health system, with special attention to Primary Care. The institution joins the support shown by the Forum of the Medical Profession, which brings together the Medical Organization, the National Conference of Deans of Medical Faculties, the State Council of Medical Students, scientific medical societies, and the calling unions, and which has also positioned itself against the draft proposed by the Ministry of Health. For this reason, they call for the unity of the medical community and social solidarity with these mobilizations, appealing to citizens' understanding of the need for a professional and sustainable public health system. Added to these claims are the updating of on-call regulations, labor and organizational improvements, and the reduction of the daily workload faced by professionals. The Ciudad Real provincial institution also demands a Statutory Framework Law that respects the specificity of the medical profession and clearly regulates the working day, rest periods, and the remuneration model. In their final words, they highlight that «guaranteeing decent working conditions for doctors is essential to protect the quality of care and patient safety». They also add that «at a particularly critical moment for health, this reform represents a step back that affects professional dignity and the quality of care». This refers to the paralysis of the professional career since 2012, a circumstance they consider an unfair comparison with most autonomous communities and a violation of the consolidated rights of professionals. The provincial institute considers that the draft of the Preliminary Bill of the Statutory Framework for Statutory Staff of the National Health System, presented by the Ministry of Health, generates deep concern among professionals. In this sense, they emphasize the need to «guarantee the protection of the physical and emotional health of professionals». At that appearance, they accused the regional government of «stripping doctors and professionals» of this recognition and warned that «they will not stop» until its return. The collective also defends the need to strengthen medical staffing at all care levels to correct the «structural deficit» of the system and thus reduce waiting lists. Although it coincides with a national mobilization to demand its own Statutory Framework Law, CESM insists that the regional protest «has its own entity» and does not depend on any other initiative. With the start of the strike scheduled for tomorrow, the Medical Union sends a reassuring message to the public and recalled that emergency services will be fully guaranteed through the minimum services established for these four days. The College of Physicians of Ciudad Real supports the strike and warns of a «setback» in the draft of the new Statutory Framework Law. The College of Physicians of Ciudad Real has expressed its firm support for the strike called by the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions on December 9, 10, 11, and 12. The College defends that «we support the free decision of doctors to join this strike as a legitimate exercise of their constitutional right». Therefore, they reiterate «the need to reactivate it immediately as an essential measure to guarantee equity, motivation, and stability for those who sustain our health system». The professional calling is not exploitation. In the call's poster, professionals emphasize 'We want enough time to attend to our patients as they deserve. Enough with belittling our profession'. Some 5,000 doctors, specialists, and residents of the Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha are called to start a strike tomorrow, Tuesday, which will continue on December 10, 11, and 12. No to waiting lists.