The Catalan Health Department wants to fine those who attack healthcare professionals: five attacks are reported every day.
Three out of four violent situations are referred to primary care, consultations, or information desks.
Violence against healthcare professionals is a real problem with serious consequences for both staff and the quality of the healthcare system, warns the World Health Organization (WHO). In Catalonia, at least 2,000 violent incidents against doctors, nurses, administrative staff, and other healthcare workers occurred in 2024, the Catalan Health Department reported on Thursday. These are the first official figures on violence against healthcare workers, as records are currently incomplete—not all public or private centers report cases—and there is no mechanism to financially penalize perpetrators. The department now aims to address these shortcomings, arguing that the data shows the situation has worsened in recent years and particularly affects (76% of cases) primary care centers (CAPs), outpatient clinics, and information desks—the entry points to the healthcare system. Among the behaviors considered violence against these professionals are raising one's voice, intimidation, insults, or threats, whether in person or through social media, as well as assault or causing property damage inside or outside healthcare facilities. According to data from the Catalan Health Department (Salut), of all violent incidents recorded in healthcare centers, the majority (89%) were non-physical, and the causes were diverse, such as the perception of the care received and the user's demands, which may or may not have been related to medical treatment. The department has also reported that, of the assaults it is aware of, more than two-thirds (77%) were committed by the users or patients receiving care, and 24% of the aggressors were repeat offenders. By professional profile, doctors suffered the most violence (30%), followed by nurses (24.9%) and administrative staff (24.8%). While 64% of the aggressors were men, 73% of the victims were women. The regional health ministry has explained that it is making progress in developing a legal framework to sanction those who commit any type of violence against healthcare professionals through a draft bill. Administrative fines will be incorporated to strengthen the protection of healthcare personnel. The public consultation on this legislation is scheduled for the first quarter of next year. Furthermore, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), a protocol for action in situations of violence has been agreed upon, along with support in managing violent situations that occur in centers and services, including the processing of complaints. Public and private registry
The Catalan Health Department launched the "Zero Tolerance Against Violence Against Healthcare Professionals" campaign this Thursday, aiming to raise public awareness about the need to respect healthcare professionals. The campaign was launched by the Observatory for Situations of Violence in the Healthcare Sector of Catalonia (OSVASC), an initiative of the Directorate General of Healthcare Professionals, in conjunction with the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), the Catalan Health Institute (ICS), unions, employers' associations, professional associations, healthcare providers, and other organizations within the healthcare system. One of OSVASC's main challenges is to promote and consolidate the registry of cases of violence against healthcare professionals in order to identify the factors that can trigger these situations and the circumstances in which they occur. The registry classifies situations into three categories: physical, non-physical, and damage to property. "Having this information will allow the Department to better understand the phenomenon and to promote more effective prevention and protection measures," the Health Department stated in a press release. Currently, the registry is implemented in 45 healthcare entities representing nearly 400 healthcare centers. Starting in January 2026, data from ICS centers will be incorporated into the registry, specifically from eight hospitals and more than 300 primary care centers (CAPs), and the rest of the rollout will be completed throughout the year. The registry will also progressively integrate data from private centers, and this is expected to be available during the first quarter of 2026.
