Canary Islands Health Department Introduces a Fifth Level in Healthcare Career Pathways
The Canary Islands' Healthcare Career Structure Update
Overview
The Canary Islands' Health Department has announced a significant update to its healthcare career structure, creating a new fifth level for all professional categories within the service. This development aims to:
- Recognize higher specialization
- Improve incentives
- Foster loyalty among health workers
The measure, effective from January 1, 2025, was enacted under the 2025 regional budget law, reflecting evolving national standards that now feature five levels of progression instead of four.
Details of the Revision
The revised classification allows health professionals, including:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Management staff
To advance based on:
- Experience
- Merit
- Credits earned through professional development activities
Benefits of the New Fifth Level
- Increased remuneration
- Annual salaries reaching approximately €11,965 for physicians
- A fixed productivity bonus
Broader Recognition and Equity
The change also extends to:
- Temporary staff
- Substitute staff
Ensuring broader recognition and equity across employment types, consistent with recent Supreme Court rulings on the rights of temporary workers.
Objectives and Policy Alignment
This overhaul aims to:
- Offer better wages
- Strengthen motivation and retention of healthcare workers
In a sector facing ongoing staffing challenges.
The decree emphasizes:
- Transparency
- Fairness
- Legal compliance
Making it a key step toward:
- Modernizing the regional healthcare system
- Aligning with national policies.
"This new classification is a crucial move to modernize our healthcare system and ensure fair recognition for our professionals," said an official from the Health Department.