Euskadi Advances Legal Framework to Empower Patient and Citizen Participation in Health System
Euskadi is developing a comprehensive legal framework to guarantee structured and meaningful patient and citizen participation in its health system, building on the Pacto Vasco de Salud's principles.
- • Euskadi is creating a regulatory framework for patient and citizen participation in its health system.
- • The Citizen Participation in Health Plan includes a registry of patient associations and funding for training.
- • The 2026 budget allocates initial funding for this plan.
- • The Pacto Vasco de Salud integrates patient participation at all system levels and emphasizes transparency and equity.
- • Patient organizations have played a key role in shaping and committing to the Pacto.
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Key details
The Basque Government, led by Health Minister Alberto Martínez, is pioneering a new regulatory framework designed to ensure structured, meaningful participation of patients and citizens within Euskadi's health system. This initiative was revealed at the Nitid Health Forum in Madrid, where Martínez highlighted the strategic and increasingly central role of patients in health governance alongside Carina Escobar from the state platform of patient associations.
At the core of this effort is the creation of the Citizen Participation in Health Plan, earmarked in the 2026 budget. This plan seeks to legally recognize patient associations, guaranteeing their independence and bolstering their influence within the health system through new mechanisms such as a formal registry of patient organizations and dedicated funding for training programs.
Martínez underscored the transformative impact of the Pacto Vasco de Salud, which integrates patient participation across all decision-making levels—from clinical consultations to overall system planning and regulatory development. This pact emphasizes inclusivity, transparency, and prioritizes patient experience and health outcomes to ensure no one is left behind.
A pivotal strategic focus in this pact addresses enhanced citizen participation and transparency. It promotes strengthening the network of associations, improving access to reliable information, and fostering equitable participation across different groups. Representatives from various patient organizations expressed unprecedented involvement in the Pacto's formation and reaffirmed their commitment to actively implement and monitor its provisions.
This regulatory framework marks a significant step for Euskadi in institutionalizing patient and citizen voices, setting a benchmark for regional health governance reforms in Spain.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.