Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid against cuts to health services.
According to the German newspaper “Handelsblatt”, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated today (Sunday) in Madrid against the reduction of health services.
About 670,000 people gathered in Cibeles Square in the center of the Spanish capital, according to organizers. At the same time, the Spanish Interior Ministry estimated the number of demonstrators at 200,000. The protests were against austerity policies and plans by the conservative regional government of Madrid to complete part of emergency care online due to staff shortages in public health centers.
Different groups of citizens demanded to participate in this rally with the slogan “Madrid is rising”. Among the participants in these gatherings were well-known artists, families with children and grandparents, politicians of various parties, trade unions and public health workers. In addition to more investment, they also demanded the resignation of Isabel Díaz Ayoso, head of the regional government of Madrid.
A doctor at Hospital de la Princesa told Spanish news agency Europa Press: “The cuts and restrictive policies that have been in place since 2010 are devastating to public health.” The situation is now unbearable.
Doctors, nurses and other health care workers in Madrid have been on strike since two weeks ago in protest of the new laws.
The strikers are demanding the repeal of the new law of the local government, which foresees the closure of some clinics and the establishment of emergency departments.
Criticizing the privatization policy, the harsh working conditions and the lack of medical staff, the left-leaning unions object to the workload of family and emergency physicians.
A large number of residents of Madrid also participated in today’s demonstration of the medical staff due to long queues in hospitals.
