Spanish State - November 18, 2022

Huge demonstration in Madrid in defense of public healthcare

“Health care is not for sale; it is defended”

On Sunday, November 16, a huge mobilization took place organized by the Assemblies of the towns and neighborhoods of Madrid, by social movements and by trade unions, such as AMYTS and MATS, among others. Over 600,000 workers and the people of Madrid took to the streets to defend public health care from the brutal attack of the Popular Party, which governs the community of Madrid. The opening of the new under-staffed Continuous Care Points (PAC), as 80 PACs were deployed with the staff of the 40 extinct Rural Care Services (SAR), has sparked an indefinite strike called by the medical union AMYTS, joined by the stoppages promoted by the unions SUMMAT and MATS for all PAC staff during weekends and the resignations of doctors. Also, the long waiting lists for a doctor or a specialist make good medical care impossible.

The PP in Madrid region, like the PSOE in the regions where it rules, has privatization policies for health care. Subsidies to private health care have skyrocketed while services in public centers have been closed or reduced to a minimum. All of this is legal, thanks to state laws 15/97 and articles 67 and 90 of the General Health Law, which both PP and PSOE defend.

This whole situation culminated in the huge mobilization last Sunday. Although it was scheduled at midday, leaving the Atocha station was almost impossible due to the number of people arriving. The four columns that would head towards Cibeles from Nuevos Ministerios, Ópera, Hospital de la Princesa, and Atocha converged on Paseo del Prado demonstrating the protest to the health management of Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

Let's reverse all privatizations!
Not a single euro from the public budgets to private healthcare!
Recruitment of all the health personnel needed!
No more private companies in the health sector!
Quality public services!
Reduction of working hours without reduction of wages until there is work for all!
Nationalization without payment and under workers' control of the banks and strategic sectors!