Madrid doctors’ strike: Minister calls it ‘a little odd’

Spain’s national doctors’ strike has drawn criticism from Health Minister Mónica García in Madrid. On Monday, 14 September 2026, García called the walkout “a little odd”, saying the unions’ demands concern powers held by the autonomous regions. The dispute comes as the Congress of Deputies, Spain’s lower house of parliament, starts debating the draft Estatuto Marco legislation.

García said her ministry had reached agreements with doctors in the past and with leading representative unions including UGT, CSIF, CCOO and SATSE.

She said the parliamentary debate could still take in demands left outside the Estatuto Marco. An “intergroup” is due to hear those requests, which she described as legitimate concerns of medical professionals.

García said the bill’s arrival in the lower house offered another chance to discuss it. Parliamentary groups can amend, approve or reject the text. They have the right to reject it, she said, but argued that doing so would mean losing the chance to make a first move towards better working conditions for health professionals.

Topics: Strikes · Jobs & labour · Health · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com