Doctors demonstrate in Barcelona again to demand updated labor agreement

This Friday is a day of protest in Barcelona.

Teachers are finishing their week of strike action with road cuts and demonstrations across the Catalan capital, while doctors are also calling for improved working conditions.

Around 35,000 people, according to the local police, took to the streets on Friday in the two demonstrations by teachers and doctors that converged in a march to the Catalan parliament.

Earlier in the morning, more than 500 people gathered on Friday morning at Hospital del Mar to demonstrate in the 9th day of strike called by the Doctors of Catalonia union since October.

Doctors’ demands include reforming overtime and rest periods, increasing pay for on-call hours to at least 175% of a standard hour, and lowering the retirement age. The union also calls for limits on daily patient visits in primary care and for protected time dedicated to non-clinical tasks such as training, teaching, and research.

Friday is the second day of protest from healthcare workers this week, after they joined teachers and farmers on Thursday in blocking communication points. 

Today, the doctors' protest is expected to reach the Catalan parliament and converge with the teachers' demonstration.

At the head of the doctors' march, a banner read 'Medical agreement, now!', as they demand "real dialogue" with political leaders and "structural measures" to reduce workloads.

The Doctors of Catalonia union denounces that the Department of Health continues to "ignore" them.

Wearing white coats and work uniforms, the protesters are carrying signs with messages such as 'Tired doctor, abused patient' and 'Public and quality healthcare'.

Minimum services set

Minimum services will be maintained during the strike to guarantee essential healthcare coverage. Emergency departments and critical units will operate as normal, and urgent treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy will be ensured.

Urgent surgical procedures will continue, while outpatient and primary care centers will provide urgent services during regular hours with 33% reduced staffing on Friday.

Other services will generally follow holiday schedules, while medical transport, emergency coordination systems, and essential pharmaceutical services will remain fully operational. 

The union warns it will continue mobilizing in the coming months if its demands are not met.