So far 870 Spanish doctors have signed a manifesto which states: “My loyalty to patients does not allow me to ignore my ethical and professional duty and abandon them”.
They are defying a government decree to refuse public health services to 150,000 migrants.
Six of Spain’s 17 regional governments — all those not run by the ruling right-wing Popular Party, and one that is — have also announced they will ignore the law and continue to provide free healthcare to migrants.
Madrid’s new law requires all non-EU citizens without residency cards to pay a charge for health services unless they are under 18, pregnant or involved in an accident or other medical emergency.