In December 2025, Spain’s healthcare system will face a large-scale strike. Several unions, including the Confederation of Medical Unions of Spain (CESM) and the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), have announced a four-day work stoppage. The protest will take place from December 9 to 12 and will affect all regions of the country. The main reason is dissatisfaction with the draft of the new labor statute prepared by the Ministry of Health.
Healthcare workers believe that the proposed document fails to account for the specific nature of their profession and does not address long-standing issues related to working conditions. According to union representatives, doctors are tired of prolonged negotiations and the lack of real change. They are demanding a separate statute that would reflect the unique aspects of their work and guarantee decent conditions for all specialists.
Scale of the protest
In Madrid, the strike will affect all doctors and healthcare professionals — from primary care staff to hospital and outpatient services. Interns, residents, and staff from major medical centers, including Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla, as well as institutions connected to the regional health service SERMAS, will join the protest.
Organizers note that after the mass strike in October, doctors saw no progress from the authorities. Therefore, they have decided to maintain pressure on the government. If their demands are not met, unions have already announced new actions for January 2026, including the possibility of indefinite protests.
The Catalan experience
In Catalonia, the largest regional union, Metges de Catalunya (MC), has joined the strike. Protests are planned here not only in December, but also in January of next year. Catalan doctors are demanding a separate agreement for their sector and insist on revising the system for paying on-call shifts. In October 2025, Barcelona already saw a major demonstration, gathering around two thousand healthcare workers outside the regional health ministry.
This time, both public and private clinic employees working under government contracts will join the protest. Doctors emphasize that their demands are not limited to salaries, but also concern working conditions, schedules, and the ability to influence decisions made at the national level.
Nationwide mobilization
In other regions, including Galicia, Navarra, and Valencia, local unions not affiliated with CESM joined the strike. In November, a large demonstration took place in Madrid, bringing together about three thousand doctors. Participants again voiced dissatisfaction with the proposed statute and called for direct dialogue with the authorities.
In the coming days, unions plan to publish a detailed schedule of protests and rally locations across Spain. Thousands of doctors are expected to join the December strike, with medical facilities operating under minimal service requirements.
Demands and Prospects
The main demand of healthcare workers is for a separate labor statute that would allow direct negotiations and recognize the unique nature of their profession. Doctors emphasize the need for acknowledgement of their working conditions, including lengthy training, high responsibility, and demanding schedules. According to unions, only by doing this can the outflow of specialists be stopped and the quality of medical care improved.
So far, the authorities have not made concessions, and negotiations have reached a stalemate. Healthcare workers warn that if the situation does not change, protests will continue into next year. New strike dates have already been set for January 2026, and unions say they are prepared for a prolonged fight for their rights.
For reference, the Confederation of Medical Unions of Spain (CESM) is the country’s largest doctors’ association, representing specialists at all levels. The Andalusian Medical Union (SMA) actively defends the rights of healthcare professionals in Andalucía. Metges de Catalunya (MC) is the leading union in Catalonia, regularly organizing protests and negotiations with regional authorities. All of these organizations play a key role in shaping health policy and advocating for the interests of the medical community.
