Doctors at the 39th Aragonese Primary Care Congress said unresolved staffing shortages and workload pressures threatened working conditions and the quality of care. Union representatives called on the Government of Aragón to fulfil agreements signed in 2023 and 2025.
Leandro Catalán, president of the Medical Unions of Aragón (FASAMET and CESM Aragón), said measures in the 2023 primary care improvement agreement remained outstanding. The unions want family doctor posts at health centres restructured. They are also seeking a review of a health map that is more than 40 years old.
The unions want support consultations in every centre so patients do not wait more than 72 hours. They have also called for a cap of 1,500 health cards per family doctor and a review of out-of-hours care points. These are demands, not measures the source says have been implemented.
Catalán attributed the shortage of doctors, particularly family doctors, to public administrations and universities. He called for more training places and teaching centres, with particular attention to rural areas. He also urged medical faculties to give greater attention to family medicine.
Pay and retention formed another part of the dispute. Catalán said the 2023 agreements included higher payments for doctors supervising medical residents, a measure he said had not been delivered. He also sought better employment and pay conditions. His proposals included stable jobs and full access to career progression, alongside measures to make rural practice more attractive.
The union leader said a separate improvement agreement with the Aragonese Health Service had been signed on the morning of the congress, after a year marked by national and regional strikes. He thanked health department and service officials for their work on the deal, while stressing that negotiations continued and the earlier agreements still required fulfilment.
Security at health centres was another demand. Catalán called for cameras and geolocation for doctors making home visits. He also sought security guards at all urban and rural centres while they are open to the public. He urged educational campaigns under the name Stop Agresiones to promote proper use of health services and respect for staff.
Congress president Nuria Tundidor said doctors were working at a limit that threatened their conditions and the care they could provide. She cited appointment delays and limited time with patients. Working under stress and accumulated fatigue, she said, increased the chance of errors.
Tundidor asked the health councillor for a dedicated, independent primary care budget. She also called for suitable facilities and better equipment. She said the requests were intended to protect a model of care that remains close to patients and serves as the entry point to the health system.
A separate report on Aragón’s draft budget covered another regional policy issue.
