The Health Counselor asks the Minister of Health to "change his attitude" to the medical strike and the lack of professionals

The Basque Government's Health Adviser, Alberto Martínez, on Friday asked the Spanish Government's Minister of Health,Monica García, to "change her position"in the face of the strike by doctors and the lack of professionals.

Martinez has expressed his "concern"about the current situation, which is "particularly serious" because of the time it has come: in the midst of the flu campaign, when the virus is highly affected, and when hospitals and health centres across the state are suffering from this incidence in thousands of consultations and care. "We cannot cope with such high assistance pressure in the midst of a labour dispute and, furthermore, when no measures are being taken by the Ministry to ensure the proper relinquishment of professionals," the counsellor has warned.

It also requests explanations from the Minister on the organizational model proposed in the Framework Statute for Medical Guards, the system to which it intends to access and the economic forecasts it uses to deal with the changes proposed by the Ministry.

The Health Counsellor has also expressed concern about the lack of measures to address the shortage of doctors c, which she considers to be a structural and growing problem. She has reported that while many doctors receive letters informing them of their retirement, the Basque Country's request to extend the retirement age a few months ago has not yet been resolved.

Martinez recalls that the medical strike, which is currently under way, is in addition to the previous calls made by various health groups and that another one is scheduled in January if no progress is made in the negotiations. "To this must be added that the Ministry has delayed more than ever the publication of the provisional list of persons admitted to the BAME examination," said Martínez.