Spanish doctors start 4-day strike amid surging flu outbreak

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - Doctors in Spain on Tuesday launched a four-day strike against the new work regulations drafted by the Health Ministry.

The latest strike, which is the doctors’ third in the past six months, came at a time when a flu outbreak is surging across the country.

Doctors, who oppose changes to on-call shifts, staff shortages, and low compensation for overtime under the new work regulation, will continue the strike until Dec. 12.

Demonstrations were held on Tuesday in several cities, including the capital Madrid and Barcelona.

In Madrid, doctors, in their white coats, gathered in front of the parliament building and marched toward the Health Ministry.

The unions and medical associations representing the doctors, who argue that they have suffered further losses rather than improvements to their rights, called for "respect and dignity" for their profession.

The doctors announced that if their demands continue to be ignored, they will extend the strike into January.