Ministry of Health Introduces Draft Law to Limit Private Sector Presence in Public Health System
The Ministry of Health has taken a significant step in its efforts to limit the presence of the private sector in the public health system. Minister Mónica García has announced the release of a draft law for public consultation, titled the “Law on Public Management and Integrity of the National Health System.” The main objective of the law is to restrict the management of public health services by private for-profit entities.
The draft law aims to facilitate the reversal of models from private to public management, ensuring that hospitals initially managed by private companies will once again be under the exclusive control of the public administration. This move is intended to address issues such as the loss of control capacity by public administrations and budgetary restrictions on publicly managed hospitals.
Minister García emphasized the need to prevent corruption and parasitization of the public health sector by private companies. The law does not completely prohibit private sector involvement but aims to limit privatization in favor of improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services.
However, the private healthcare sector has expressed concerns about the proposed law. The Spanish Private Health Alliance (Aspe) criticized Minister García’s statements, arguing that they unfairly criminalize the legitimate activities of the sector. Aspe believes that the elimination of private sector agreements could lead to increased waiting lists and negatively impact healthcare services.
Additionally, the Institute for the Development and Integration of Health (Idis Foundation) has raised concerns about the potential negative impact of the law on accessibility and quality of healthcare services for patients. They advocate for a consensual relationship framework between the private and public sectors to ensure collaboration under secure and transparent conditions.
The introduction of the draft law has sparked a debate between the Ministry of Health, private healthcare providers, and health advocacy organizations. As stakeholders continue to discuss the implications of the proposed legislation, the future of public health management in Spain remains uncertain.