The Balearic Medical Union, Simebal-CESM, announced today, Monday, that doctors and medical practitioners in the Balearics will support the national strike called by the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions and the Andalusian Medical Union from Tuesday until Friday. Simebal highlighted in a statement that the strike has the support of all areas of the medical profession, from students to doctors in specialist training, active professionals, medical forums and medical associations, and all national medical unions, which will support the four-day strike.
‘The medical profession has said enough is enough and does not accept the draft Framework Statute presented by the Ministry of Health, which unifies all categories of the national health system without respecting the training and uniqueness of doctors and medical practitioners,’ Simebal denounced.
The four-day mobilisation calls for ‘the approval of a specific statute that guarantees the protection and recognition of the medical profession’.
During the strike, daily rallies will be held at 8:30 a.m. at each hospital in the community. In addition, a rally is planned for Thursday, which will be the third protest in front of the Government Delegation in Palma at 11:00 a.m. The Balearic Medical Association (Comib) will also join Thursday’s rally. Simebal regrets in advance any possible incidents that may harm patients and calls for participation and social support ‘to move towards a regulatory framework that dignifies healthcare work and guarantees adequate conditions for professional practice.’
As a result, The Balearic Health Service, Ib-Salut, has set minimum services for the strike. These services will be 100% in the case of urgent or critical hospital services. In those centres where there are several shifts, the strike will begin with the first shift on the 9th and will end once the last shift has finished, even if it continues after 11:59 p.m. on Friday, according to the Regional Ministry of Health on the terms of the strike protesting against the medical statute. Minimum hospital care services will be those provided for healthcare on public holidays.
In medical specialities with admitted patients and in central services that must care for hospitalised patients, there will be one additional specialist per medical service on the morning shift, compared to those scheduled for public holidays. In hospital services considered urgent or critical, 100% of care will be provided to ensure scheduled activity and the continuity of ongoing treatments.
This is the case for services that provide vital care: medical and radiotherapy oncology and haematology, oncological surgery, emergencies, dialysis, day hospital and hospital pharmacy. As for minimum primary care services, during the morning shift, between the 9th and 12th, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., there will be one doctor and one paediatrician per health centre. In centres with more than 20,500 health cards, there must be two doctors and one paediatrician. During the shift from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., there will be one doctor and one paediatrician (if available).
As for the continuous care shift (PAC), from 3:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., from 9 to 12 December, all doctors and paediatricians who provide continuous care must be on duty. As for the emergency services (SUAP and 061), given their nature and the services they provide, coverage must be 100%.
Due to the specific characteristics of their employment relationship, Ib-Salut does not establish minimum services for MIR staff.