While elevating slogans and holding placards that learn “S.O.S. Public Healthcare” and “Stop Privatisation”, protestors stood in entrance of the Ministry of Health constructing and marched into town centre.

The newest demonstration got here simply two months after not less than 200,000 folks took to the streets in Madrid in November 2022. The capital has been witnessing such protests ever for the reason that coronavirus pandemic broke out round three years in the past.

Why are well being staff protesting in Madrid?

Health staff declare that below the federal government of the Popular Party, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the funding of the general public well being care system in Madrid has been minimize. They allege this has triggered a extreme scarcity of sources and employees in public hospitals. Moreover, sufferers have to attend endlessly and their key “screening appointments such as mammograms are cancelled or rescheduled for months in the future”, in line with France 24.

Speaking to the media, the unions that organised the January 15 protests mentioned, “Madrid spends the least amount per capita on primary health care of any Spanish region even though it has the highest per capita income,” AP reported. They added that out of each two euros spent on healthcare in Madrid, one goes to the non-public sector.

Protestors allege that Ayuso for years has favoured non-public healthcare. The chief first got here below criticism after she launched a brand new mannequin for non-hospital emergency well being centres, which remained closely understaffed. This grew to become one of many chief causes for protests final 12 months due to “the excess workload, the endless appointments and a lack of time for seeing patients”, The Guardian reported.

How has Ayuso responded?

According to AP, Ayuso has claimed the newest protests are motivated by the “political interests of left-wing parties”, who need to defeat her within the upcoming regional elections in May.

Before this, in the course of the November 2022 demonstrations, she had responded to her critics by saying that the protests weren’t held within the curiosity of the general public healthcare system however quite to assist the centre-left Spanish Socialist Workers’ get together turn out to be outstanding once more.

Ayuso added, “It was held to find new far-left leadership for the Madrid region because of the collapse the Socialist party is going to suffer. If it had solely been a demonstration about public healthcare, don’t be in any doubt that two million madrileños would have attended.”

Are these protests taking place solely in Madrid?

According to a number of stories, strikes and protests in Madrid are set to unfold throughout Spain, significantly in Catalonia, Valencia, Extremadura, Andalusia, Navarre and Aragon for comparable causes. Unions have introduced totally different dates for the protests.

Notably, well being staff have been protesting internationally attributable to overwork, underpayment and poor working circumstances, particularly for the reason that onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unionised well being staff within the United Kingdom have introduced to stage protests and strikes on January 18 and 19 to demand elevated pay. Last 12 months, the US, Germany and Turkey additionally witnessed comparable sort of protests.