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Monday, Jan 7, 2013 3:00 PM UTC

Large Spanish protest against health privatization

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Topics: From the Wires,

Large Spanish protest against health privatizationNational health workers march during the first major demonstration of the year, in Madrid Monday Jan. 7, 2013. The demonstration was against government-imposed austerity measures and labor reforms in the public health care sector in Madrid. Main banners read 'Defend your health, Save banks and close hospitals, For the health.' (AP Photo/Paul White)(Credit: AP)

MADRID (AP) — Thousands of Spanish medical workers and residents are marching through downtown Madrid to protest against government budget cuts and plans to partly privatize their cherished national health service.

The demonstration is the latest of several, described as a “white tide” because of the color of the medical scrubs many protesters wear.

The protesters walked Monday behind a large banner saying, “Health care is not to be sold, it’s to be defended.”

Health care and education are currently administered by Spain’s 17 semi-autonomous regions rather than the central government. Madrid proposes selling off the management of six of 20 large public hospitals and 27 of 268 health centers.

The Spanish government argues the sell-offs and cuts are needed to secure health services during a deep recession.

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