Spain strengthens its response to health emergencies

The Ministry of Health has launched a public consultation on a new framework for coordination and response to health emergencies

• Micaela Izbicki

• Life Sciences & Healthcare

The Ministry of Health has opened the public hearing procedure for the draft Royal Decree approving the National Plan for Preparedness and Response to Serious Threats to Public Health.

This plan responds to the need for a robust legislative framework aligned with global standards, ensuring a joint response to biological, chemical, environmental, radiological and nuclear threats, or to any situation that, due to its nature or magnitude, exceeds existing healthcare resources or requires the coordinated intervention of health authorities. Below we highlight the main novelties:

A national coordination framework

The plan contemplates the creation of the State Coordination Commission ("CECO"), whose mission is to coordinate, supervise and evaluate the activities necessary for the development and implementation of the National Plan, ensuring intersectoral governance and the efficient use of resources in situations of serious threat.

Early warning and rapid response systems

One of the fundamental pillars of the plan is the Early Warning and Rapid Response System ("SIAPR"), responsible for detecting and assessing health risks independently and rigorously, providing the technical basis for the activation of control measures or the declaration of emergency situations.

In this context, the plan also introduces the figure of the Public Health Emergency of National Concern ("ESPIN"), which will allow extraordinary measures to be adopted swiftly and proportionately whenever the magnitude of the threat requires it.

Territorial harmonisation and regional obligations

The plan requires all autonomous communities and cities to develop their own preparedness and response plans, which must be approved within one year of the entry into force of the Royal Decree regulating this national framework.

In this way, homogeneous action is guaranteed throughout the national territory, always in coordination with the guidelines of the state plan.

Strengthening strategic capabilities

To enhance the operational capacity of the system, the plan provides for a set of complementary measures, among which the following stand out:

• Creation of a strategic reserve of medical supplies.
• Development of a digital platform to enable real-time sharing of available healthcare resources.
• Consolidation of a national network of reference laboratories.
• Implementation of territorial units specialized in high-risk infectious diseases.
• Constitution of public health teams deployable anywhere in the territory.

These actions aim to reinforce the country's capacity to anticipate, respond to, and recover from future health crises.

A commitment to public health

The drafting and implementation of the new National Plan represents a clear response to the lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic highlighted the need for a solid regulatory framework, intersectoral coordination mechanisms and early warning systems to anticipate and effectively manage health emergencies. This plan not only strengthens the response capacity of the Spanish healthcare system, but also fosters territorial harmonization and cooperation among administrations, guaranteeing homogeneous and efficient action throughout the country. Ultimately, Spain is taking a decisive step towards building a more resilient public health system, prepared to face future challenges and protect its citizens from any health threat.

• Micaela Izbicki

• Life Sciences & Healthcare