Tenerife Doctors Announce New Strike Wave Amid Healthcare Impasse
Doctors in Tenerife are set to launch a new round of strikes from April 27 to 30, further disrupting healthcare services as negotiations over the proposed Framework Statute remain deadlocked.
Public healthcare in Tenerife is bracing for further disruption as doctors prepare for a new round of strikes. Following a failure to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Health, medical unions have called for a nationwide walkout from Monday, April 27, to Thursday, April 30. Further strikes are already planned throughout May and June.
The conflict stems from the unions' opposition to the proposed Framework Statute. Doctors are demanding specific regulations tailored to their profession, and they intend to continue their protests until these concerns are addressed. Esther Monzón, the Canary Islands' Minister of Health, has urged the central government to speed up negotiations, warning that the ongoing standoff is placing significant strain on the healthcare system.
The impact of these protests is significant. During the last five-day strike, 16,000 consultations were cancelled and 345 surgeries were postponed across the Canary Islands. In Tenerife, participation has fluctuated; while 327 doctors (16.33% of staff) joined the strike on March 20, the number dropped to 271 (10.93%) by April 1.
Tenerife remains a focal point for these mobilizations. With the details of "minimum services"—the essential care that must be provided during a strike—still unclear, patients face continued uncertainty regarding their diagnostic tests and surgeries. As the Ministry and the unions remain at an impasse, the protests continue to disrupt hospital operations and routine patient care across the island.