Spain

On May 31, 2022, it was announced by the Ministry of Health that the Council of Ministers authorized the distribution of almost €400 million for the renovation of high-tech equipment in the National Health System (SNS) through the High-End Technology Equipment Investment Plan (INVEAT) of the SNS.

On February 21, 2022, it was announced by the Ministry of Health that the public consultation regarding the Draft Order amending the Common Package of Benefits of the National Health System (SNS) was open. The amendments and clarifications are related to the fields of in-vitro diagnostics, ENT, pulmonary and airways, e-health, neurology, dental care, radiology, and enteral nutrition.

On January 18, 2022, the Ministry of Health has awarded the Framework Agreement for the acquisition of 81 linear accelerators included in the High-End Technology Equipment Investment Plan. Furthermore, the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) has also initiated the processing of the Framework Agreement that will facilitate the acquisition of the equipment in the fields of interventional cardiology, interventional vascular radiology, interventional neurovascular, digital brachytherapy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, PET-CT, SPECT-CT.

In January 2022, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) released an HTA report aiming to assess and compare the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of the mechanical circulatory support devices most used in the healthcare setting for the treatment and prevention of cardiogenic shock, including Impella® devices, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

On December 2, 2021, the Digital Health Strategy of the National Health System (SNS) was approved by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) with an endowment of more than €675 million within the Transformation, Recovery, and Resilience Mechanism of the Government of Spain. The Digital Health Strategy is expected to promote the SNS values such as equity, sustainability, and transparency and boost the transformation of the SNS care model in the upcoming years.

On September 10, 2021, it was announced that the Government of Spain had increased the budget allocated to the Spanish Network of Agencies for the Evaluation of Health Technologies and Benefits (RedETS) by 48.2% (compared to last year) for the development of the annual work plan. In total, the 2021 budget for the evaluation of health technologies in the National Health System amounts to €6,149,510. As a consequence of the budget increase, the RedETS 2021 Work Plan has included three new lines of evaluation.

Earlier this year, the Spanish authorities introduced endobronchial valves for persistent air leakage into the Common Package of Benefits of the National Health System. This decision was based on the reports (HTA report and monitoring study) by the Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS). On July 22, 2021, the Resolution outlining the conditions for the provision of the service was published.

On June 30, 2021, it was announced that the Government of Spain, through the Ministry of Health, will invest nearly 400 million euros throughout this year in the development of the High-End Technology Equipment Investment Plan (INVEAT) of the National Health System (SNS). The objectives are to reduce the obsolescence of the current SNS technology park and to raise the average density rate of high-tech equipment per 100,000 inhabitants. The renovation of equipment amounts to 585 units and the expansion to 262.

On June 30, 2021, the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System has approved the agreement of the Committee of designation of Centers, Services, and Reference Units (CSUR) for the designation of 21 new CSUR for seven pathologies, including ophthalmological diseases and the renovation of designation of six CSUR for adults with congenital heart disease.

On June 30, 2021, the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System has agreed to create the Digital Health Commission aiming to contribute to co-governance with the Autonomous Communities in this matter. The draft "Digital Health Strategy", prepared by the General Secretariat for Digital Health, Information, and Innovation, has been presented to open a process of consultation and observations.

On June 30, 2021, the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System has approved the inclusion of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt-CGM) systems in the Common Package of Benefits for adult patients meeting certain criteria. The inclusion of rt-CGM devices in the Common Package of Benefits means that these devices are now guaranteed to the defined population nationwide.

The Health Sciences Institute in Aragon (IACS) systematically evaluates healthcare technologies and facilitates the promotion of research, effective innovation, and decision-making in health services through knowledge management. Currently, the IACS is working on assessments of efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of intraoperative radiation therapy in breast cancer, determination of preeclampsia biomarkers SFlt-1 and PlGF, treatment of congenital ventricular septal defect by cardiac catheterization, and others.