Spanish Government Sets Minimum Services During Indefinite Healthcare Transport Strike
Canary Islands' Mandatory Service Levels During Ambulance Strike
Background
The Canary Islands' Health Department has announced mandatory minimum service levels during an ongoing strike by ambulance personnel. The strike, which started on June 8, 2026, involves personnel contracting to transport patients urgently and non-urgently. It will continue every Friday until further notice, with workers protesting unresolved issues related to their employment conditions.
Authorities' Emphasis on Service Continuity
Despite the strike, authorities emphasize the importance of maintaining vital health services. The decree mandates that:
- 100% of urgent transport services continue, including all emergency patient transfers ordered by medical staff.
- Transfers between health facilities, urgent evaluations, and life-saving transports are to proceed without interruption.
Additionally, scheduled non-urgent transportsāsuch as routine patient transfers for treatments like dialysis or chemotherapyāmust also keep running. Emergency discharges from hospitals and urgent transfers requested by medical teams remain protected.
Government's Justification and Legal Stance
The government argues this measure is essential to prevent disruptions that could threaten lives and health, reinforcing that healthcare transport qualifies as an essential service under Spanish law.
"Healthcare transport is an essential service, and we will ensure it continues unhindered."
Strikers are protesting over conditions involving the employment of transport staff, but authorities stress that public health rights, enshrined in the constitution, take precedence. The government reserves the right to take legal action if the strike endangers people's health or safety, ensuring critical medical services function smoothly during the ongoing protests.