Barcelona is feeling the impact again as Doctors of Catalonia (MC) began their eleventh strike since October on Wednesday, pressing the Catalan Department of Health for better labour and professional conditions.
The union is calling for changes to working hours, staffing levels and pay. It says current conditions are putting pressure on doctors and making it harder to provide proper care.
The stoppage affects healthcare services across Catalonia, including Barcelona hospitals and primary care centres. Patients may face cancelled appointments, delayed procedures and longer waits for non-urgent care.
Doctors of Catalonia says it wants better pay and lighter workloads for its members. The union argues that burnout is rising and that patient care is being affected. Previous talks with the Department of Health have not led to a lasting agreement.
Catalonia's public health system, CatSalut, serves more than 7.7 million residents. During strike action, hospitals must keep minimum services in place, with urgent cases still prioritised.
The union says it will keep striking until there is substantial progress. For more on the wider dispute, see our coverage of the call to end 24-hour shifts and our community coverage of local issues.
Originally published by Diari Catalunya. Read original article.
