Health planning in Spain

Abstract

The Spanish National Health System (SNHS) was legally defined in 1986. There are many well documented studies on how its basic traits (universality, accessibility, decentralization, integrated public health networks, public and private provision, financed by taxes, social premiums and copayments, etc.) have evolved since then. This paper explains how the SNHS facilities and functions are deeply decentralized and how the recent economic crisis has changed this picture, with central health planning basically located into the Ministry of Finance and mainly guided by deficit control considerations.