Doctors across the Canary Islands are set to take to the streets tomorrow, Monday 22nd June, as part of a major protest against what they describe as the worsening state of the medical profession and the continued decline of the region’s public healthcare system.
The demonstration, organised by the Canary Islands Medical Union (CESM Canarias), will coincide with the first day of a two-day regional strike scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
The march will begin at 6:30pm at the Arsenal de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and will continue along Avenida Mesa y López before finishing at Plaza de España. Organisers say the aim is to demand “real negotiations” with the Canary Islands Government to address the concerns of medical professionals.
In a statement released on Friday, CESM Canarias criticised the regional administration for failing to provide satisfactory answers to doctors’ demands despite months of protests and the growing Stop Funciona movement, under which many doctors have withdrawn from voluntary duties.
The union also expressed frustration with comments made by Canary Islands Health Service Director Adasat Goya, who has repeatedly called on doctors to act responsibly, while, according to the union, the administration’s actions have increased distrust among healthcare professionals.
CESM Canarias said it was surprised that a recent proposal from the Health Department had been described as “irrefutable” before it had even been formally presented to those expected to assess it.
The union argues that the government chose to unveil its latest offer publicly rather than through the official negotiating process, a move it says has undermined confidence among doctors.
Despite the ongoing dispute, CESM insists it remains open to dialogue and has been calling for meaningful negotiations for months. However, it says doctors cannot continue to be blamed for declining healthcare standards while the root causes remain unaddressed.
According to the union, these problems include years of excessive workloads, poor workforce planning, inadequate working conditions and a lack of long-term structural reforms.
Among the key demands being made by doctors are support for a dedicated medical professional statute, recognition of the higher A1+ professional classification, specialised negotiating committees for doctors, improvements to on-call duties and rest periods, better career progression opportunities, permanent transfer systems, and limits on the number of patients seen in Primary Care to ensure safe and effective treatment.
CESM Canarias also rejected suggestions that the dispute is solely linked to national healthcare issues. The union argues that the conflict has both national and regional causes, including what it describes as unfulfilled commitments made by the Canary Islands Government following the resolution of a previous strike in 2023.
The union maintains that the strike is not an objective in itself but rather the result of a prolonged lack of action.
The protest march is expected to include a number of demonstrations and awareness activities and will be supported by professional, scientific and medical organisations that have publicly backed the doctors’ demands.
CESM Canarias has called on doctors, members of the public and all organisations committed to defending public healthcare in the Canary Islands to join the mobilisation.
