1,047 Osakidetza professionals reported attacks in 2025, of which 856 were women

In 2025, 1,047 professionals in Osakidetza reported verbal or physical assault in their activities, 11% less than the previous year, and most of the assaults were reported by women (856), according to the latest balance sheet of the Osakidetza Occupational Prevention Service.

Well, the latest balance sheet of the Osakidetza Occupational Prevention Service released this Thursday on the occasion of the European Day against Attacks on Health Professionals shows that of the total number of attacks reported last year, 94 (9%) were injuries and most did not cause casualties.

The remaining 953 notifications (91 per cent) were non-injury-related assaults , such as insults and threats, and by sex, most assaults occurred among women, 856 in total, "something that should make us reflect."

The number of registered notifications has fallen by 11% in the last year compared to 2024, despite the upward trend observed in previous years due to improved protocols and increased awareness of this problem, which has led professionals to report cases that they had not previously reported.

The decline recorded in 2025 is due to fewer notifications of physical attacks (accidents) and, in this regard, Osakidetza recalls that it is still too early to analyse whether we are facing a change of trend that suggests an improvement in the situation or whether it is on time.

However, the Department of Health of the Basque Government and Osakidetza have reaffirmed their commitment to a policy of zero tolerance for physical or verbal violence against professionals in the public health service, "acts which are unacceptable and which, in addition to having a direct impact on the psychological and physical health of professionals, affect the quality of public services and the care provided to citizens".

In any case, Osakidetza continues to implement preventive measures in all its organizations, especially through training for workers, to learn how to deactivate and channel situations of tension before they become a serious problem, channelling incipient events and, furthermore, supporting and encouraging those who suffer an attack to always communicate them.

In this way, the Public Health Service encourages all workers to report on these situations because it is essential to act on prevention to know the true extent of the attacks that occur in the field of health. Currently, the incidence of physical assault involving injury is 2.10 cases per 1,000 workers.

Professionals stress that "now more than ever it is essential to take careof those who care for our health "Remember that" health and violence are incompatible concepts and that a strong health system requires safe, respected and protected professionals "

They have therefore made a general appeal to administrations, institutions, professional organizations, patients and citizens to "work together to eradicate this scourge once and for all".

The attack on health professionals is a criminal offence undertheSpanish Criminal Code ; article 550 provides that anyone who attacks a health professional in the Public Administration or who, by means of serious intimidation or violence, seriously resists  when he or she is in the exercise of his or her duties, shall be liable to an attack offence punishable by up to three years' imprisonment.