People who attack healthcare workers in Andalucia could face fines of up to €60,000 under new measures being prepared by the regional government.

Antonio Sanz, the Junta’s health minister, will present the draft decree-law to the region’s ‘healthcare aggression observatory’ on Monday (November 9).

The law will strengthen protection for public healthcare staff, tackle repeat offenders and cover abuse online, including social media attacks and cyberbullying.

The Junta says a dedicated sanctions framework would allow regional authorities to process cases and impose penalties without waiting for criminal proceedings to conclude.

The measures would also protect the identities of staff reporting attacks and provide direct legal assistance through lawyers from the Andalucian Health Service, the SAS.

Sanz has argued that victims should not have to leave their jobs or transfer to another centre because of an attack.

He said the intention was to prevent aggressors from returning to confront the same professional, rather than requiring the worker to move.

The government plans to bring the measures before Parliament before the end of the year, using an urgent decree-law rather than the ordinary legislative process.

Professional bodies, unions, healthcare workers and other institutions will be invited to contribute.

The observatory is also set to be reorganised, with technical groups established in each of Andalucia’s eight provinces.

These groups will examine local needs, share effective preventative measures and assess their implementation. They will advise the observatory but will not have decision-making powers.

Policia Nacional and Guardia Civil representatives would also join the observatory to improve coordination.

Andalucia recorded 1,976 incidents against healthcare professionals in 2025, approximately 80% of them verbal.

The public health system has more than 50,000 security devices, including surveillance cameras, warning systems and personal alarms, alongside additional security in particularly sensitive locations.

Spending on protective measures has risen from just over €30million to more than €60million in recent years.

Despite that increase, Sanz has acknowledged that existing resources remain ‘insufficient’.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.