Balearic doctors seek funding to tackle island costs

The Balearic Medical Union (Simebal) called on 24 August in Palma, Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, for a new regional funding model that reflects the archipelago’s circumstances and meets the additional cost of public services. The union said the reform should help the region recruit and retain Balearic doctors.

Simebal argued that the islands face a disadvantage against other Spanish autonomous communities when competing for medical staff. It cited expensive housing, the wider cost of living and the practical challenges of working in an island territory.

The union said doctors assessing a post in the islands consider living and accommodation costs alongside pay and working conditions. It said it was inconsistent to recognise the need for tailored supplements and incentives while failing to provide the regional funding needed to deliver them.

Simebal also said healthcare demand cannot be based solely on the registered population. Tourist arrivals increase the real population for much of the year, adding demand at accident and emergency departments, health centres, hospitals and other care services.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Housing · Health · Tourism

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com