Doctors union says 45% of health professionals are on strike during first of four days

The Metges de Catalunya doctors union said that 45% of the healthcare system staff went on strike this Tuesday, marking the first day of the four planned.

The strike is scheduled to continue on Wednesday, and on January 14 and 15. Meanwhile, hundreds of workers took to the streets in Barcelona calling for better working conditions and against burnout.

The demonstration, around 800 people according to local police, called for a "quality and public" healthcare system across Catalonia, but also a collective labor agreement.

Some chants heard were: 'Metge cansat, pacient maltractat,' which could translate as 'tired doctor, mistreated patient.'

Among the demonstrators were Jessica, a pediatrician, who said that doctors have "reached their limit long time ago, but we are very vocational, which is why you keep going despite being tired."

She added that many doctors are on sick leave for burnout and that "society cannot accept this," for her the "public healthcare system is a long-term health investment."

Protesters walked from the Spanish government delegation in Mallorca Street with the idea to reach Sant Jaume Square, where the Catalan government headquarters are located. During the walk, they even crossed with the taxi strike taking place at Gran Via boulevard.

According to preliminary data released by the union, 45% of health professionals took part in the strike. Around 54% of them being work in primary healthcare centers, and 33% in hospitals.

The Catalan health ministry said in the afternoon that 7.2% of people went on strike in the morning and that in the afternoon, the figure of staff on strike stood at 5.9%.

Sílvia Paneque, Catalan government spokesperson, said that health professionals' requests have already been "agreed on and are already in labor agreements."

The spokesperson spoke after the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday. She said that she respects the right to go on strike and listens to their demands.

However, she added that the "government defends a public health system with the best guarantees, and they care about working conditions," which is why they will listen and see if they can implement some petitions.