In response to the rise in assaults on healthcare personnel in Andalusia, the Ministry of Health has announced a significant security reinforcement. Since June 1st, 186 new officers from the Adscribed National Police have joined the Sócrates Unit, a specialized unit for preventing and acting against such incidents. This marks the first personnel increase for this unit in 13 years.
The decision addresses growing concerns for the safety of healthcare professionals, highlighted by recent incidents in health centers in the province of Sevilla, including in Santa Olalla, La Algaba, Lora del Río, and Dos Hermanas. According to 2025 data, an assault on a doctor occurred slightly more than every two days in the autonomous community, representing a 153% increase over the last decade.
The Sócrates Unit (Operational Service Against Repeated Assaults on Healthcare Workers and Specialists) aims to minimize and prevent assaults, enhance the sense of security in health centers and hospitals, and strengthen cooperation with the Andalusian Health Service and security forces.
It's about taking care of those who take care of us
The acting Minister of Health, Presidency, and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, emphasized that the reinforcement seeks to improve prevention and coordination in the face of violence, identifying high-conflict centers to prioritize preventive police presence.
The Medical Union of Seville has reported a 'worrying succession' of incidents, including threats, insults, and physical assaults. The Sócrates Unit, through dynamic risk analysis, prioritizes police presence in high-incidence centers and maintains contact with management and security personnel to gather information and plan actions.
Among its functions, the unit conducts interviews with health center managers, liaises with security guards, and supports assaulted professionals in filing complaints. The Regional Government frames this measure within a comprehensive strategy to protect healthcare personnel, promoting 'zero tolerance' for assaults.
