Spain Advances Global and National Health Cooperation Through Key International Agreements
Spain's ISCIII and AECID sign a pivotal agreement to boost global health research, while the Ministry of Health and OPS/OMS launch joint planning to strengthen Spain’s health system for 2026.
- • ISCIII and AECID signed a General Protocol of Action to enhance global health research and innovation.
- • Focus areas include epidemiology, infectious diseases, One Health, and digital health.
- • The Ministry of Health and OPS/OMS initiated joint planning to strengthen Spain’s health system in 2026.
- • Coordination mechanisms and technical meetings will guide strategic health development and cooperation.
Key details
On December 18, 2025, significant strides were made to strengthen Spain's national health system and global health research through formal collaborations between Spanish health institutions and international organizations. The Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) signed a General Protocol of Action (PGA) to foster joint efforts in research, innovation, and technical assistance in global health. Concurrently, the Spanish Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (OPS/OMS) initiated a collaborative planning process to reinforce Spain's health system for 2026.
The ISCIII-AECID agreement, signed by ISCIII director Marina Pollán and AECID director Antón Leis, aims at advancing scientific cooperation, with a focus on epidemiology, infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, environmental health, food security, digital health, chronic diseases, and the One Health approach. This partnership embodies a shared vision emphasizing the importance of internationalization and cooperation. Pollán highlighted that "biomedical research and internationalization are indispensable for global health progress," while Leis noted the strategic alliance’s role in projecting Spanish science to promote sustainable development and health worldwide, particularly by strengthening health systems in partner countries amidst global challenges.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and OPS/OMS Bolivia held a pivotal meeting in La Paz, led by José Luis Ríos Cambeses, to outline strategic guidelines for health sector management in 2026. This collaboration focuses on modernizing and enhancing the efficiency of the national health system through coordinated planning and the identification of priority areas. The meeting established a coordination space to ensure ongoing dialogue and operational alignment between institutions. Upcoming technical sessions aim to solidify strategic goals and enhance collaboration among the Ministry's technical units and OPS teams.
These dual efforts underscore Spain’s commitment to fostering robust health systems and advancing global health research through strategic international partnerships, positioning the country at the forefront of sustainable health development and scientific innovation.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
