Indefinite strike announced for late October

Spanish medical unions have agreed to launch an indefinite nationwide strike starting on 28 October 2026. The action, coordinated by the medical Strike Committee, protests the draft bill for the Framework Statute (Estatuto Marco) approved by the Council of Ministers. The legislation regulates labour relations across the national health service and has now moved to the Congress of Deputies for parliamentary debate. Medical organisations argue that the current bill fails to reflect the specific working conditions, responsibilities, and training required in medical practice.

Core demands and accumulated impact

The dispute centres on union demands for a separate, dedicated statute for doctors and facultative healthcare staff rather than a shared framework covering all healthcare workers. Union platforms, including the Union Medica y Facultativa (UMYF) and the Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM), submitted a classification proposal to the Ministry of Health on 21 April 2026. They are seeking bilateral negotiations to address working hours, retirement provisions, and professional status. Earlier rounds of industrial action began in February 2026, progressing from single-day walkouts to week-long stoppages each month. According to union records covering 13 of Spain's 17 autonomous communities, the five earlier walkouts resulted in the cancellation of more than 3 million appointments and an estimated economic impact exceeding 200 million euros.

Regional backing and Basque strike dates

Regional branches across Spain have confirmed their participation in the indefinite stoppage, including CESM Murcia, the Medical Union of Andalusia (SMA), Metges de Catalunya, AMYTS in Madrid, SME in the Basque Country, and O'MEGA in Galicia. In Andalusia, SMA president Rafael Ojeda stated that a regional salary pre-agreement signed in July 2026 with regional counsellor Antonio Sanz will remain in effect until the nationwide strike date arrives.

“Until 28 October, for us it remains in force.”

In the Basque Country, the SME union has also joined the national call despite a July agreement with regional health service Osakidetza. Basque health unions have separately scheduled five additional strike dates for Osakidetza staff between October and December 2026.

Health Ministry defence and parliamentary pathway

Minister of Health Mónica García rejected union calls to halt the bill, stating that transferring the legislation to the Congress of Deputies opens the proper democratic channel for negotiation. García noted that regional governments have held exclusive powers over healthcare planning and human resources since 2001, with Catalonia acquiring them in 1981, the Basque Country in 1983, and Navarra in 1990. She proposed creating a parliamentary working group to examine doctor-specific rules while maintaining the general statutory baseline.

“A dedicated statute only for doctors can emerge on the foundation of a common statute that improves the working conditions of all professionals, not on its ashes.”

While minimum service levels for primary care and hospital procedures have not yet been established for 28 October, past actions maintained between 12% and 50% staffing in primary care and 100% in critical emergency units.