Spain

On June 19, 2024, the Order SND/606/2024, of June 13, came into force. This Order, among other things, creates the Advisory Committee for the Common Package of Benefits in the Area of Genetics.

On June 19, 2024, the Order SND/606/2024, of June 13, came into force. This Order, among other things, amends Annexes I, II, III, VI, and VII of Royal Decree 1030/2006, of September 15, which establishes the Common Package of Benefits of the National Health System and the procedure for its update. The changes mostly concern in-vitro diagnostics, ENT, pulmonary and airways, cardiovascular, and some other fields.

On May 23, 2024, the 2024 working plan was published by the Spanish Network of HTA Agencies (RedETS). Topics in cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, endoscopy, ENT, extracorporeal treatments, ICU/OR, in-vitro diagnostics, interventional radiology, men’s health, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, pulmonary and airways, radiology, radiotherapy, robotic surgery, spine, surgical procedures, and some other fields are included in the plan.

The Draft Order amending the Common Package of Benefits of the National Health System was published in spring 2024. The proposed changes mostly concern screening, primary and community care, eHealth, cardiovascular, and medical aids fields.

In March 2024, the Health Sciences Institute in Aragon (IACS) is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in diagnostic imaging, IVD, as well as clinical guidelines in endocrine, orthopedics, nephrology and urology, and some other fields.

In March 2024, the Evaluation and Planning Service of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS) is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in the cardiovascular, endocrine, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In February 2024, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in the cardiovascular, e-health, ENT, IVD, and some other fields.

On January 23, 2024, the Ministry of Health introduced a new national catalog, which guarantees the Spanish population's genetic tests nationwide. Currently, the catalog includes 672 tests in eight disease areas, including adult and pediatric oncohematology, pharmacogenomics, hereditary metabolic and mitochondrial diseases, and others. Twelve more disease areas are expected to be added in 2024.

In November 2023, the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS) informed that the La Marató Foundation selected 36 cardiovascular projects together with eight other projects in a ranked reservation list to be funded.

On November 13, 2023, the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia released a user guide on the health technology assessment framework: adaptation for digital health technology (DHT) assessment. The guidelines described can be equally useful for HTA agencies, researchers, and developers of DHT, decision-makers, and regulators.

On October 20, 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Health announced that a budget of 130 million euros was allocated to support the upcoming launch of the Personalized Digital Care Plan. Healthcare digitalization is already a well-established reality that materialized into the Digital Health Strategy with more than 800 million euros budget allocated since 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In late October 2023, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including the evaluations in the cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, ENT, ICU/OR, nephrology and urology, IVD, neurovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical procedures, and some other fields.