Doctors’ statute: MPs weigh separate Spanish law
A separate doctors’ statute is now in the hands of Spain’s Parliament. Health Minister Mónica García has asked MPs in Madrid to form a working group to decide whether doctors need their own law. She made the proposal on 10 September 2026, while a wider health workforce bill is already before Congress.
García said her ministry does not rule out a distinct law for doctors and specialist doctors. But it would have to sit on the shared foundation of the planned Estatuto Marco — the framework law intended for all health-service staff.
MPs to decide what form the law takes
The draft framework law already includes a chapter on doctors. The proposed parliamentary group would examine whether that should become a separate statute, be expanded within the wider bill, or fall partly under the powers of Spain’s autonomous communities.
The group would work alongside Parliament’s ongoing scrutiny of the framework law. García said a doctors’ statute could not dictate how an emergency department, such as that at Hospital de Cruces, is run because the state does not hold all the relevant powers.
She said the framework law was the first step towards improving working and professional conditions for health staff after 23 years under the current rules.
More staff and fewer shifts bring a cost
García acknowledged that the future framework law will have a budget impact. Hiring more staff would be needed to support better conditions and cut on-call shifts.
She said the cost must be met by both the state and the autonomous communities. According to the minister, the government has provided the regions with 45 per cent more funding than in 2018, while targeted Health Ministry transfers for primary care, mental health and digitalisation have risen tenfold.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com