Canary Islands Doctors Announce General Strike Over Labor Disputes

The Canary Islands' public healthcare system is facing fresh labor unrest. The Professional Medical Union (CESM) has announced a series of protests, leading up to a general strike across the Canary Health Service (SCS) on March 19 and 20. This conflict stems from a growing divide between the Ministry of Health and doctors, who claim the government has failed to honor agreements made after last year’s strikes.

At the heart of the dispute is a call for a new regulatory framework. The union is demanding a specific statute for medical staff, arguing it is essential to protect working conditions and stop the "brain drain" of talent to the private sector or other regions. Doctors are also calling for better pay for on-call shifts, both for specialists and doctors in training.

Protests are taking place across the islands. Following demonstrations in Gran Canaria on Monday, a gathering is scheduled for Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Government Sub-delegation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Further actions are planned for Wednesday and Thursday at major hospitals and health centers across all the islands, including facilities in Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and Fuerteventura.

Beyond the new statute, the union has set two "non-negotiable" requirements: aligning professional career progression with the three best-performing regions in Spain, and launching an open, permanent transfer system by January 2026. These demands highlight the medical community's deep distrust of the regional administration and their urgent push to stabilize a workforce they see as vital to the future of public healthcare in the Canary Islands.