Assaults on healthcare professionals in Spain have experienced a significant increase for the fourth consecutive year, with a reported total of seventeen thousand and seventy incidents in 2024, marking a sixteen per cent rise compared to the previous year. The majority of the victims are women, particularly in the fields of Primary Care and Extrahospital Services. The Ministry of Health has highlighted that the rise in reported incidents is partly attributed to increased awareness among victims, leading to more reported cases and improved data collection.

The report indicates that eighty-four per cent of the assaults consist of verbal insults and threats, although physical assaults also represent a considerable number, totaling two thousand nine hundred and forty-six cases. Most incidents occur during consultations, followed by hospitalisation and urgent care settings. Notably, assaults are predominantly inflicted by patients, accounting for seventy-one per cent of cases.

The findings suggest that the rising number of assaults can be linked to users’ perceptions of care and unmet demands. Furthermore, the report indicates that many violent incidents remain unreported, including harassment on social media and via telephone. As of 2024, the National Police processed four hundred and six reports of assaults on healthcare professionals, a twenty-eight per cent increase from 2023.

The Ministry emphasised the need for a multi-faceted approach to tackle the issue, as attacks against healthcare workers are expected to persist despite ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration between health authorities and security forces. The latest data also reflects community responses, with a growing understanding and support for the challenges faced by healthcare providers.