Health authorities in the Valencian Community are preparing changes to regional legislation that would allow fines to be issued directly for aggression against healthcare workers.
The Conselleria de Sanidad is drafting amendments to the regional Health Law. The proposal would introduce a system of administrative sanctions, allowing authorities to issue penalties without needing to go through the courts.
Under the plan, fines could range from €500 to €60,000, depending on the seriousness of the incident.
Behaviour covered by the new rules
The proposed regulations would apply to a wide range of behaviour in hospitals and health centres.
This includes:
- Damage to furniture or medical equipment
- Verbal abuse or insults
- Threats and disrespectful behaviour
- Physical aggression against healthcare staff
The measures form part of a broader strategy aimed at preventing violence in healthcare settings and strengthening protection for medical professionals.
Online abuse could also be fined
Under the planned changes, insults or threats directed at healthcare workers through social media or other digital platforms could also lead to financial penalties.
Health authorities say the objective is to reinforce a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of aggression against healthcare staff.
Workers are also being encouraged to report every incident, whether verbal or physical, so it can be investigated and sanctioned.
Healthcare workers recognised as public authority
The updated legislation will continue to recognise healthcare professionals as public authority figures while carrying out their duties.
This legal status provides stronger protection when incidents occur.
Improved security in health centres
More than 100 safety improvements have been introduced in healthcare facilities.
Measures include redesigning certain spaces and r-eorganising work shifts to reduce situations where staff work alone.
Security is also being reinforced. This year, 123 additional security guards will be deployed across healthcare centres, with placements based on a risk map identifying facilities with higher incident levels.
Healthcare workers can also activate an alert system known as Código Alerta, which allows them to quickly warn colleagues and security teams if a situation becomes threatening.
Incidents rise slightly in 2025
Authorities have also launched public awareness campaigns to highlight the seriousness of attacks on healthcare staff. One campaign reminds the public that aggression against healthcare workers is a criminal offence and can affect the quality of care patients receive.
Reported incidents increased slightly last year.
In 2025, there were 1,457 recorded aggressions against healthcare workers, compared with 1,356 cases in 2024.
Most incidents involved verbal abuse, accounting for 1,227 cases, while 230 incidents involved physical aggression.
Health officials believe the rise mainly reflects greater reporting of verbal abuse, rather than a significant increase in serious attacks.
Primary care staff most affected
Of the total incidents recorded:
- 822 occurred in primary care centres
- 635 took place in hospitals
Administrative staff and doctors are the most frequent victims in health centres. In hospitals, nursing assistants and nurses are the most affected.
More than 80% of victims are women, reflecting the workforce in the region, where women represent over 76% of healthcare professionals.
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