In Spain, a doctor is attacked every ten hours. Although there are fewer attacks in the province of Alicante, the issue is becoming more prevalent. In fact, the number of these incidents (both verbal and physical) increased by 37% in 2024 as compared to the previous year.

The Official College of Physicians of Alicante (COMA), which received 26 allegations of assaults on physicians (while doing their duties) last year, published these numbers. Males made up 58% of the victims, with the majority being under 35.

Additionally, there were more physical assaults—5 occurrences compared to the 2 in 2023—and threats and coercion against doctors in their workplace—16 compared to the 13 that were reported to the College the year before. verbal abuse, to which the five notifications for harassment and insults must be added.

The majority of these violent incidents—24, or 92% of the total—took place in the public system. 65% of the attacks reported by the COMA in 2024 occurred in health centres and primary care emergency departments, continuing the trend of prior years that shows this to be the most violent and dangerous medical setting for physicians.

In the province of Alicante, the aggressor typically takes the form of a guy under 40 who is either a patient or a friend. Regarding the reasons behind the attacks, the most prominent ones are the disparities in the medical care that was given and the failure to provide the patient’s recommended medication.

Dr. José Manuel Peris, the Secretary General of the COMA, notes that although more doctors are reporting violent incidents they see too frequently, “these figures do not reflect the magnitude of the problem.” Many more attacks go unreported due of fear of potential retaliation, exhaustion from the copious paperwork necessary, the sluggishness of the legal system, or the absurd penalties that complaints frequently result in.

“We need stronger penalties, as well as a specific law against assaults on healthcare personnel, as already exists in other Autonomous Communities, and on-site reporting,” states the general secretary of COMA.

“Of course, threats and coercion, but also insults and humiliation, must never occur, and this must be made clear to the aggressors,” Dr. Peris says, urging his fellow medical professionals to always report any aggression. We run the risk of internalising and normalising them, which is not an option, and doctors do not deserve them. You must report them to the COMA and the police since remaining silent about the aggressions is tantamount to endorsing them.

Workshops on prevention

As part of the celebration of the “European Day against Attacks on Doctors and Health Professionals” on March 12th, the Medical Union of the Valencian Community (CESM-CV) and the Alicante Medical Association will collaborate with the Alicante Command’s Civil Guard and the National Police of the Alicante Provincial Police Station to host two workshops on self-defence and prevention techniques.

Inspector D. Vicente Romero, the Provincial Police Territorial Health Interlocutor’s working team, will conduct the first practical session. Next Wednesday, March 12th, at 1:00 p.m., the meeting will take place in the Juan XXIII Health Center’s assembly hall. The agents will give the center’s medical staff specialised training in this workshop to help them steer clear of dangerous circumstances.

This year marks the first time the COMA and the Civil Guard have collaborated on a workshop. The Santa Pola Health Centre was selected as the location. On March 25th, the Guardia Civil’s Police-Health Interlocutor, Lieutenant José Agustín Serna of the Alicante Command Headquarters, and his team will conduct a hands-on training for medical professionals.