The government will approve this Tuesday the Framework Statute without resolving the conflict with the doctors

Medical unions have declared the negotiation process with Spain's Ministry of Health exhausted and continue to push for their demands regarding the Framework Statute, according to multiple reports. The dispute centers around the proposed Framework Statute, which was agreed upon in December by the ministry and major medical unions including UGT, CCOO, CSIF, and Satse. However, the medical unions have rejected the agreement, citing unresolved issues and threats of indefinite strikes in September unless their demands are met. The government plans to approve the Framework Statute in a cabinet meeting this Tuesday. The text outlines minimum standards and sets boundaries for negotiations, aiming to improve working conditions for healthcare professionals. According to government sources, once approved, the statute will move to Congress, where it can be amended and voted on like any other law. The approval follows months of tension and weekly strikes by medical workers, who accused the ministry of making no progress and pushing forward with the legislation despite their objections. Minister of Health Mónica García has defended the process, accusing the medical unions of being disloyal during negotiations. She emphasized that her department has set the framework and basic rules, leaving the improvement of working conditions to the autonomous communities, which hold jurisdiction over such matters. Among the new regulations introduced by the Framework Statute are the elimination of mandatory 24-hour shifts, which will be reduced to 17 hours, the establishment of examinations every two years, and a maximum weekly work limit of 45 hours. Despite the ongoing conflict, there has been no contact between the ministry and the medical unions in the past two months. Sources within the unions confirmed this lack of communication, while the ministry continues to point to the regional governments as the primary actors in resolving these issues. García stated in an interview that the solution lies with the autonomous communities, most of which are led by the Partido Popular, suggesting that the resolution of labor conditions must occur at the regional level. In recent months, medical unions have secured agreements in several autonomous communities, including the Basque Country, Valencia, Galicia, and Asturias. In Andalusia, the latest region to reach an agreement, a committee has been established to meet before the sectoral table and improvements in work-life balance have been included. According to the Andalusian Medical Union (SMA), the agreement with the regional government addresses one of the main demands of the protests against the ministry: equal pay for shift work compared to regular hours and a review of the current model based on mandatory shifts. Sources from the ministry noted that these agreements could reduce tensions as the academic year begins. Rafael Ojeda, president of the SMA, mentioned that the agreement with the regional government opens a dialogue space, making it difficult to justify an indefinite strike in Andalusia, even though the open conflict with the ministry persists. The National Federation of Medical Unions (CESM) will evaluate the proposal for a strike at its executive meeting scheduled for next Friday. Sources indicated that they hope some measures can be adopted, although the situation remains tense and unresolved. The continued disagreement highlights the deep divide between the national government and the medical unions, with each side maintaining their positions on the Framework Statute and the role of regional authorities in addressing the concerns of healthcare workers.