Patients in Spain will soon play a more direct role in shaping healthcare decisions. The Ministry of Health has created a new body designed to bring patient organisations into the heart of the system.
Called the Mesa para la Participación de los Pacientes, the initiative aims to strengthen public involvement in the National Health System (SNS), while improving transparency and decision-making.
Healthcare Spain: A more direct role for patients
Patient groups have become increasingly involved in health policy in recent years. This new body now formalises that role and ensures their input helps shape how participation works in practice.
The platform will serve as a permanent space for dialogue between the government and organisations operating at national level or across several regions.
What it will do
The new body will advise on how to build participation into health policies and regulations. It will also monitor and review existing measures aimed at increasing patient involvement.
At the same time, it will promote awareness campaigns focused on health and quality of life, while supporting training and sharing best practices among organisations.
Another key task involves helping to develop a national register of patient groups and identifying representatives for other advisory bodies.
How it will operate
The body will meet at least twice a year through a full assembly and a permanent committee.
The Secretary of State for Health will lead it, alongside representatives from key areas such as public health, mental health, digital health, pharmacy, the Spanish Agency for Medicines, the National Transplant Organisation and the National Plan on Drugs.
Patient organisations will hold 11 seats. Most will come from major national groups, while others will represent organisations focused on rare diseases.
These positions will rotate every two years, and experts may join discussions when needed.
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