Doctors block roads in Barcelona on first day of indefinite strike

Doctors have began an indefinite strike in Catalonia on Wednesday, and the industrial action began with roadblocks in Barcelona this morning.

The protest blocked Avinguda Diagonal near the university district at approximately 9.45am.

The strike was organized by the Metges de Catalunya (Doctors of Catalonia) union, and physicians within the public healthcare system have been called to participate.

The union had initially coordinated the strike with other national-level unions; however, the latter withdrew, citing the upcoming general election.

Instead, though, Metges de Catalunya maintained their strike action, arguing that the government is not in a caretaker capacity and that the Department of Health has the authority to implement improvements.

Protesters are carrying signs with slogans such as "Endless waiting drives us to despair," "Exploited doctors, mistreated patients," and "Tired doctors mean poor healthcare."

The medical professionals demand a dedicated collective agreement and measures to address, above all, their excessive workload, specifically by eliminating 24-hour shifts and securing more time for patient consultations in primary care.

Prior to this indefinite strike, they had already held 12 days of industrial action since last autumn.

Officials from the Department of Health have acknowledged the legitimacy of the demands, affirming that it shares the need to continue improving working conditions.

However, they note that improvements have already been achieved in recent years, that efforts to make further progress are ongoing, and that some matters fall under the purview of the national government.

In fact, the Catalan health ministry urged for distinctions to be made between national-level trade union dynamics and the specific needs of healthcare professionals in Catalonia.