Tens of thousands of Spanish public health workers and their supporters marched on Sunday to demand more primary health care staff and a gradual transition of the public health system in favor of private health providers by conservative local governments. protested the demolition. Madrid.
Dubbed the “White Tsunami” because many protesters wore white medical coats, the protests in the Spanish capital took place under the slogan “Madrid stands up for public health.”
The Madrid area is at the center of the current protests. A partial strike began in the region last Monday, and on November 21, he went on a full-scale strike targeting nearly 5,000 Madrid doctors.
Sunday’s protest was called by neighborhood associations, trade unions and left-wing political parties.
The Madrid regional government, led by the People’s Party Isabel Ayuso, has come under attack in recent years for understaffing hospitals and primary health care centers, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
According to the organizers, Madrid is the Spanish region with the highest per capita income, but also the region with the lowest per capita spending on primary health care. They say that for every 2 euros spent on healthcare in Madrid, 1 euro goes to the private sector.
“People in Madrid should receive quality primary care, and seeing a family doctor or pediatrician should not be delayed for more than a week,” said the local medical union.
Ayuso denied the shortage of staff and said left-wing parties were orchestrating protests and strikes ahead of next year’s local elections.
