Health Minister of the Canary Islands ‘surprised’ by doctors’ strike action
The Canary Islands’ Minister of Health, Esther Monzón, has said she is “surprised” by the recent protests staged by doctors from the Canary Health Service (SCS), insisting that the stabilisation process for medical staff is already well advanced.
Speaking in Las Palmas, Monzón explained that the process, which began around two years ago, was initially slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic but has since accelerated through negotiations with trade unions.
In Spain, doctors seeking permanent public health positions must sit competitive exams known as oposiciones. These tests cover medical knowledge, practice, and regulations, and are combined with merit points such as years of service and qualifications to decide who secures each post.
While the government sees them as a fair system, many doctors argue they add unnecessary stress and delay, particularly for professionals who have already spent years working on temporary contracts in the Canary Health Service.
According to Monzón, the aim is to achieve an 8% reduction in temporary contracts, in line with Spanish law.
Monzón stressed that 87% of medical categories already have their merit-based assessments published and are awaiting final resolution. “The entire management group already has its definitive resolution,” she added, noting that the stabilisation process “cannot stop for one exam” when the study material was made available to candidates more than a year ago.
Addressing criticism about exam preparation, Monzón said the content was published online last year to give applicants sufficient time to study, with the decision to hold exams after the summer agreed jointly with the sectoral committee that represents the unions. “We are simply following what was agreed with the unions,” she said.
The minister confirmed that further meetings with unions will take place, as the stabilisation process is ongoing and cannot be delayed until every post has been fully adjudicated.
Finally, Monzón called for calm, reminding staff that dialogue has been the guiding approach of her department since the start of the current legislature.
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